Senate Democrats Making Progress on Health Reform Legislation

Key new elements of the reform legislation Senate Democrats are sending to the Congressional Budget Office for scoring include:

• Opening Medicare beginning at age 55
• Non-profit national plans administered by the Federal Office of Personnel Management
• Requirements that insurance companies spend 90% of the premium on medical benefits (vs. administrative costs)

These new elements were negotiated by a group of 10 Democrats -- 5 liberal & 5 moderate -- in closed door negotiations. The plan is now being sent to the Congressional Budget Office for scoring and more details will be available once CBO releases their findings.

Technically, the "public option" is off the table, although the term may still be used to describe the expansion of Medicare or the national non-profit plans. However, the public option as originally envisioned appears to be gone.

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