House Passes Health Reform Bill

After 11 hours of debate, the House of Representatives passed a "sweeping" health reform bill, H.R. 3962, the "Affordable Health Care for America Act." In a vote of 220 to 215, the landmark vote brings the nation one (very large) step closer to a complete healthcare system overhaul.

The more than $1 Trillion bill will expand coverage to more Americans, provides a government run health insurance option, requires insurers to cover patients with pre-existing conditions, and requires all Americans to obtain healthcare coverage. The bill will be funded by tax increases and cuts in other programs such as Medicare, as well as cost-saving commitments from the pharmaceutical industry and medical device manufacturers.

What's next? The Senate's version of the health reform bill must pass the Senate, a vote which isn't expected to take place until December or later. Then, if a bill passes in the Senate, the two separately passed bills would be reconciled into one final bill, and then that bill would go before the House and Senate for a vote.

Additional Coverage:

• Reuters Report on Health Reform Vote
• MedPageToday Article on Health Reform Vote