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Healthcare Debate Moves Front and Center

Released June 11, 2009

During the first two weeks of June, lawmakers with oversight of health care reform in the U.S. House and Senate are expected to introduce draft versions of health care reform legislation. These proposals will seek to slow down the rate of healthcare spending, improve the quality of medical care and extend coverage to the uninsured. President Obama and Democratic leaders have outlined an ambitious agenda that the House and Senate should each pass healthcare reform bills by July 31, with an eye toward combining the measures into a final package by year’s end.

All indications are that Democrats will call for the creation of a public plan people could choose over private health insurance. Congress could also set limits on the current tax exclusion for workplace health benefits, subjecting job-related health insurance to taxation for the first time since World War II.

For more information, contact Stephanie Salmon, AFS Washington Office, at 202/842-4864 or ssalmon@afsinc.org.