House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said that the Senate's health reform bill in its current form could not pass the House in a stunning admission that could greatly set back a yearlong effort to overhaul the U.S. healthcare system.
“In its present form, without any change, I don't think it's possible to pass the Senate bill in the House,” she told reporters.
Disagreement among the House's disparate Democratic caucuses over a Medicaid carve-out for Nebraska, a tax on high-value health plans and overall affordability have boiled to the surface over the past two weeks after Republicans picked up a seat in the Senate.
House leaders have been meeting throughout the week with their members to help plot a path forward for reform legislation, but a consensus has yet to emerge.
One option would have had the House pass the Senate's version with the promise that another “catch-all” bill would emerge, but Pelosi downplayed such a move.
“I don't see the votes for it at this time,” Pelosi said.
Another option that has gained traction is to break up the current reform packages and pass a separate bill—or bills—that collectively work to overhaul the insurance industry, expand coverage and lower costs.
Pelosi added that the House isn't “in a big rush” to push through a health reform package, though it remains a top shelf issue.
“It's dead,” Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr. (D-N.J.) said about the Senate's bill, repeating it several times for effect. “We need to take a step back, take a deep breath and begin anew.”
What do you think? Post a comment on this article and share your opinion with other readers. Submit your comments to Modern Healthcare Online at
mheditorial@crain.com. Please be sure to include your hometown and state, along with your organization and title.
