Orshe

Now that the Senate has finished with those amendments on preventive health for women and Medicare spending cuts, what’s next? Here are a few amendments that caught our eye:

An amendment restricting insurance payments for abortion, modeled on Bart Stupak’s amendment that passed in the House, is backed by Sen. Ben Nelson, a Democrat. The bill is likely to draw support from lots of Republicans, but probably won’t get enough Democratic votes to go through, the Hill reports. Nevertheless, the WSJ says, the debate over abortion language in the health-care bill may last for several days next week. (This story has more on the substance of the amendment.)

Drug makers could be on the hook for $106 billion over 10 years under this amendment from Bill Nelson, a Florida Dem. If it passes, drugs for patients eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid would be purchased at Medicaid rates, rather than Medicare rates. (Medicaid rates are lower.)

The drug industry had previously agreed to give up $80 billion over 10 years, largely by footing part of the bill for patients in the Medicare “donut hole.” In a statement yesterday, Nelson cited this report from Morgan Stanley that estimated that the drug industry would actually recoup $56 billion out of the original $80 billion, in the form of increased sales generated as a result of the health-care overhaul.

A number of senators are pushing cost-containment measures. A memo circulated by a group of freshmen would push for bigger changes in the way Medicare pays for care. The memo says “fee-for-service medicine –- that is, paying hospitals and doctors according to how many items or services they provide –- should be a thing of the past.” Joe Lieberman and Susan Collins — who are both on the health-care-bill fence — will be pushing their own cost-cutting provisions, the Associated Press reports.

Bonus Amendment: Read our post on the search for a compromise amendment on the public option (see the third item in the post).

Go here to see the original:
Abortion, Drug Prices, Cost Cuts: More Amendments to Watch