WASHINGTON, Oct. 16 (UPI) -- Budget analysts estimate the two possible versions of the House healthcare bill come close to the $900 billion ceiling set by U.S. President Barack Obama.
The congressional analysts say one version, favored by liberals would cost $905 billion, while the other undercuts the ceiling coming in at $859 billion. House leaders worked to lower the cost of the $1.2 trillion healthcare proposal offered in July, the Washington Post reported Friday.
Both packages would provide coverage to 30 million Americans through Medicaid eligibility expansion and private insurance subsidies for those who cannot afford coverage through an employer. Both, also, would establish a public-option insurance plan that would be competitive with private insurance companies, the Post said.
Compared with the original proposal, however, both of the two new plans would offer less generous subsidies for people who need assistance purchasing insurance and do not have access to affordable employer coverage. Additional savings would involve lowering employer tax credits, the newspaper reported.
Under the $905 billion plan, payments for healthcare professionals would be based on Medicare rates, which are much lower than private rates, which poses a problem for medical providers in rural areas where Medicare payments are lower than the national average.
By contrast, the less-expensive plan would provide that administrators negotiate payment rates directly with hospitals and physicians, the newspaper said.
The $859 billion proposal would place millions more on Medicaid rather than offering them federal subsidies to purchase private insurance.
