Healthcare Reform Update

March 26, 2010

On Thursday, March 25, at approximately 2:10 p.m., the Senate passed the reconciliation proposal by a vote of 56 to 43. Three Democrats (Senators Blanche Lincoln (AR), Ben Nelson (NE) and Mark Pryor (AR)) voted against the proposal, which was then immediately sent back to the House for another vote. Another House vote was required because the Senate Parliamentarian ruled that two provisions (related to educational Pell Grants) violated the “Byrd” rule and must be removed from the bill. As expected, all GOP amendments during the debate were withdrawn, tabled or failed to pass (no Democratic amendments were offered).

At approximately 9:00 p.m., the House passed the proposal as changed by the Senate by a vote of 220 to 207. The measure will now be sent to the President for signing.

Frequently Asked Questions

As a service to our members and the community, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City (Blue KC) continues to analyze and evaluate the impact reform will have on us all. You can be confident that Blue KC is working hard to understand the complex reform legislation that was passed. We will continue to update this FAQ as we gain more clarity on the different reform elements. Thank you for your interest and please check back often.