The Senate's Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee on Thursday passed The Affordable Health Choices Act.
Committee members have called the bill landmark legislation that will reduce health costs, protect individuals' choice in doctors and plans and assure quality and affordable heathcare for Americans.
The bipartisan bill includes more than 160 Republican amendments accepted during the month-long mark-up, one of the longest in Congressional history. The bill was nevertheless approved by a vote of 13 to 10, along party lines.
The Affordable Health Choices Act, sponsored by Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.), chairman of the HELP committee, builds on the existing employer-based system and gives small businesses better options for high value health coverage.
"Under the insurance reforms in The Affordable Health Choices Act, no American can be denied health coverage because of a preexisting medical condition or have that coverage fail to help them when they need it most," said a statement issued by the HELP committee. "No American will ever again be subject to annual or lifetime limits on their coverage or see it terminated arbitrarily to avoid paying claims."
Committee members say the bill reduces healthcare costs. Republicans are balking at the cost, which has been estimated initially by the Congressional Budget Office to be near $1 trillion, though amendments were said to have lowered that price tag.
"I could not be prouder of our committee," Kennedy said. "We have done the hard work that the American people sent us here to do. We have considered hundreds of proposals. Where we have been able to reach principled compromise, we have done so. Where we have not been able to resolve our differences, we have treated those with whom we disagree with respect and patience."
The bill now faces a vote by the full Senate. It comes as the House released the initial draft of its 1,000-page health reform bill this week.
Lawmakers are shooting for an Oct. 1 deadline for health reform, though many Republicans argue the process is too rushed for careful consideration.