What Is the Difference Between the House and Senate Health Care Bills?

Most of us haven't read either health care bill that has been approved by the House or the Senate. Beyond being filled with typical ambiguous legislative wording, these bills are monstrosities and they are beyond the scope of the Average Joe.

As Americans, we have the right to know what our elected officials have in store for us; especially when their votes and policy decisions directly impacts the health and well being of our families. Before these bills go to conference, I think it is important to know what the fundamental differences are between these beasts of bills.

The Heritage Foundation, one of the leading and only voices of Conservatism today, has prepared a fantastic, concise paper that outlines these differences.

The giant House and Senate health care bills[1] reflect a common ideological foundation: a profound congressional faith in the efficacy and desirability of federal government control over the financing and delivery of Americans' health care, ranging from federal control over health benefits to the dramatic expansion of government coverage--notably Medicaid--for new classes of American citizens.

Nonetheless, there are consequential policy problems to be resolved. Before a final bill reaches the desk of the President, House and Senate negotiators must iron out these differences and engage in further compromise and concessions. Read the full document: http://www.heritage.org/Research/HealthCare/wm2740.cfm