House unveils healthcare bill

The New York Times recently took a look at the bill Nancy Pelosi and the House. Their package includes a $894 billion package that will not add to the national debt. It will cover an additional 36 million by expanding Medicaid. The House had previously worked on three bills this summer, and this is a combination. Now it is up to Senator Harry Reid to combine the bills set out by the two parties. Read more here.

Senate introduces opt-out bill for state healthcare

According to Salon.com, the Harry Reid announced today that the Senate's bill for healthcare reform includes the option for states to opt out of public insurance. Many believe this is one of the keys for the healthcare reform to survive the legislative process. The House still has to introduce their bill, is still weighing their options, which includes one that pays doctors and hospitals on a fee schedule based on Medicare rates, or one that negotiates directly to set its own prices, much like private insurers do. Read more about the current healthcare reform situation here.

Vote expected today for the Senate Financial Committee

Today is the day that the Senate Financial Committee is expected to vote and pass on bill that will overhaul the current American health care system. After the Senate Financial Committee has passed the bill, then it will be in the hands of the Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to combine the bill passed by the Senate Financial Committee and the bill already approved by the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.

If the revised bill then picks up 60 Democratic votes in the Senate, Reid needs 60 votes to overcome a possible Republican filibuster. Read more about the vote here. Follow the vote via Live Blogging at the New York Times.