Major Health Care Hurdle Possibly Cleared

InsideINdianaBusiness.com Report

Ice Miller LLP Partner Kevin Woodhouse outlines why a deal on the "Cadillac" tax is a significant step in the health care debate.

A partner in Ice Miller LLP's health care practice says an apparent deal on a "Cadillac" tax for high-cost insurance plans could move federal lawmakers closer to a final bill on health care reform. Kevin Woodhouse tells Inside INdiana Business the agreement involves an exemption for union members' negotiated health plans until 2017 or 2018. He says an announcement on the deal could come at any time.

The tax, which is only included in the bill that passed the Senate, and other issues surrounding the national health care reform debate will be examined Thursday during a forum being held by Ice Miller and the Indiana Chamber of Commerce.

Woodhouse says several matters, including abortion, still have not been resolved.
He believes federal lawmakers could still have a compromise between the Senate and House health care bills in place by President Barack Obama's State of the Union address on January 27.
The effort could be complicated by today's special election in Massachusetts to replace Senator Edward Kennedy. Democrats could lose their majority in the Senate, if the party's candidate does not win.

That could lead to Republicans trying to block passage of a health care reform bill in the Senate.
Source: Inside INdiana Business, Ice Miller LLP