Federal Update 7

June 17, 2009

CONGRESSIONAL DEVELOPMENTS

Health Care Reform Dominates Congressional Agenda

Health care reform is expected to be the focus of House and Senate committee action through the remainder of the summer. The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee has announced that the mark up of health care legislation within its jurisdiction will begin later this week and continue at least through the end of June. The HELP Committee's bill is likely to address employer requirements and provide the framework of a public health care plan.

The Senate Finance Committee, which has jurisdiction over all health reform financing, may begin to mark up the legislation that will pay for the HELP Committee's recommendations later this week. Numerous proposals to finance new and modified health care programs are under review by Finance Committee members. The Finance Committee's leadership has outlined several health care-related revenue options to support changing the current health care system. The committee's document also includes the Obama Administration's recommendations for financing health care reform.

In the House, three committees have jurisdiction over health care reform: Ways and Means, Education and Labor, and Energy and Commerce. There is an outside chance a draft of the House legislative proposal could be released this week although without the Ways and Means financing recommendations.

Both chambers have a goal of completing consideration of health care reform before the start of the August recess (August 3 for the House and August 10 for the Senate). This would allow the House-Senate conference negotiations to take place through the fall.

The implications for higher education are at present unknown. As the debate unfolds, we will report on how the proposals would affect Indiana University students and employees.