POLICY BRIEFINGS

Hart Health Strategies provides a comprehensive policy briefing on a weekly basis. This in-depth health policy briefing is sent out at the beginning of each week. The health policy briefing recaps the previous week and previews the week ahead. It alerts clients to upcoming congressional hearings, newly introduced bills, regulatory announcements, and implementation activity related to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) and other health laws.


THIS WEEK'S BRIEFING - OCTOBER 17, 2011

JOBS Bills Resurrect Health Issues


Last week both Republicans and Democrats turned back Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s revised JOBS Act (S.1660), on a 50-49 vote, which failed to get the 60 votes necessary to suspend a filibuster by Republicans.  The President said he would now work with Senate Democrats on piecemeal legislation which can garner the Democrat votes to pass the Senate.  In response, Senate Republicans unveiled their own jobs plan to reduce job barriers and unemployment.  Among the provisions is one which would repeal the PPACA.  Also, the bill would revamp the tax code, leaving the Senate Finance Committee to recommend changes in tax credits and deductions to make the tax reform proposals revenue neutral.  The prospect for piecemeal legislation remains to be seen, especially given House Republican insistence on finding spending or revenue measures to offset the cost of the jobs initiative.  It is likely that members in both parties would rather not take revenue enhancements off the table until the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction (Super Committee) has had a chance to formulate their recommendations for deficit reduction which may also include some jobs initiatives.



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