By GottaLaff
FYI:
Liberals on the House Energy and Commerce Committee have struck a deal with Blue Dogs that will restore some cuts by finding savings in other places, such as letting the government negotiate drug prices.
The deal would allow the federal government to negotiate drug prices and use the savings to lower insurance premiums in the exchanges that would be established in the bill, according to a copy of the agreement obtained by The Hill.
Another amendment calls for finding additional savings through other methods by simplifying Medicare and Medicare administrative costs.
The cuts sought by the Blue Dogs would remain in place unless the drug negotiation and other initiatives yield savings. But any savings would be used to lower premiums.
The deal is to be structured in three amendments: the Blue Dog amendment and two "unity amendments." [...]
The deal also cut funding to subsidize people who want to join the public plan. That angered more liberal members of the committee, who sought to restore the subsidies. They joined Waxman and the Blue Dogs in announcing an agreement this morning. [...]
Waxman’s committee is the third and final House committee to complete work on a sweeping health reform bill moving through Congress. Both Ways and Means and Education and Labor have passed similar bills.
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