Mary Agnes Carey, associate editor of CQ HealthBeat, discusses Senate passage of a measure to expand SCHIP, Senate preparations for debate on an economic stimulus package and how tax issues could complicate the confirmation of former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) as HHS Secretary, in this week's "Health on the Hill from kaisernetwork and CQ."

Carey says that the Senate last week passed a bill to reauthorize SCHIP for four-and-a-half years and increase federal funding for the program by nearly $33 billion over this period. The bill would allow four million additional children to be enrolled in the program. Funding for the bill would come from a 62-cent-per-pack increase in the federal cigarette tax. According to Carey, the bill now goes back to the House, which is "expected to clear it for President Obama's signature."

She notes that Republicans offered several unsuccessful amendments to the bill, including provisions to prohibit states from enrolling children of families with incomes greater than three times the federal poverty level in SCHIP and allowing states to help families with incomes higher than two times the poverty level purchase private insurance. The debate over the bill "may indicate there are difficult times ahead" for health care reform efforts, she says. According to Carey, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) said that if lawmakers want health care reform, "Democrats and Republicans would have to find ways to work together."

Carey also discusses developments related to the economic stimulus bill. The House last week passed its version of the stimulus package. She says the Senate "is gearing up for floor debate on the $888 billion package that includes funding for a variety of health care items." The bill includes funding for health information technology, comparative effectiveness research and state Medicaid programs, according to Carey. She adds that the bill also would increase funding for community health centers, NIH and preventive health services such as screenings and immunizations. Amendments will aim to "reduce spending in the bill that Republicans think is not critical to the economy," according to Carey. However, "Republicans ... may not be successful in their attempt to make major changes to the package," as Democratic leaders "want to act quickly and get a package to President Obama by Presidents Day in mid-February," Carey says.

In addition, Carey reports that Daschle has filed amended federal tax returns for 2005, 2006 and 2007, showing that he owed $128,203 in taxes, plus additional money owed for car and driver services used between 2005 and 2007, and income from consulting work in 2007. Daschle amended his tax returns voluntarily after his nomination was announced, according to Carey. She adds, "A White House spokesman said the administration did not believe that Daschle's tax troubles would block his nomination and that Daschle would be confirmed," although she adds that it is "unclear how [Senate Finance Committee] members ... will handle this development." Carey adds, "It's also important to note that Daschle ... has many allies in the Senate who will support him" (Carey, "Health on the Hill from kaisernetwork and CQ," 2/2).

The complete audio version of "Health on the Hill," transcript and resources for further research are available online at kaisernetwork.

Reprinted with kind permission from kaisernetwork. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at kaisernetwork/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation.

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