Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus wasn't specifying how, but the Montana Democrat was firm in his declarations to reporters Tuesday that he’ll meet his goal of paring down the cost of a comprehensive health overhaul to below $1 trillion over 10 years. Read more »
A new report released Wednesday says overhauling the health care system without a government-run insurance option could cost the federal government up to three times as much during an 11-year period than if a public insurer paying Medicare-level rates existed. Read more »
The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee’s markup of its much maligned health overhaul proposal came to an early end Thursday with Sen. Christopher J. Dodd saying the panel will reconvene the drafting session July 6 with the goal of completing it by July 10. Read more »
White House budget director Peter R. Orszag defended the approach the White House is taking to hold down the long-term costs of a health overhaul, telling the top Republican on the House Budget Committee Thursday that the administration will only support a plan that is deficit-neutral over 10 years, including in the 10th year. Read more »
Senate Democrats have asked the Congressional Budget Office to examine three proposals that would require large businesses to contribute to their employees’ health coverage, according to a document released Wednesday. Read more »
Details of an agreement the White House announced this weekend to reduce prescription drug costs for seniors remain murky, leaving unclear how much money the deal might provide for a health overhaul. Read more »