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House, Senate Committees Release Draft Health Care Reform Proposals

Democratic leaders in the House and Senate on Tuesday released draft versions of health care reform legislation in their respective chambers that outline several initiatives, including a public health insurance option that has been the focus of debate between Democratic leaders who favor it and Republicans and moderate Democrats who oppose the provision, The Hill reports (Soraghan, The Hill, 6/9). According to the New York Times, the draft bills represent an emerging consensus between the Senate and House on how to move forward with health reform (Pear, New York Times, 6/10).The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee"s 615-page draft health care bill would expand eligibility for Medicaid and allow families with incomes up to 500% of the federal poverty level to qualify for subsidies to purchase insurance. In addition, the bill includes an individual mandate requiring U.S. residents to purchase insurance, reforms for the insurance market, suspension of coverage denials based on pre-existing conditions and the establishment of a health insurance exchange where U.S. residents can compare and buy coverage (Budoff Brown, Politico, 6/9). Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.), the second-ranking Democrat on the HELP Committee, will lead mark-up sessions scheduled to begin June 16 while Committee Chair Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) undergoes treatment for brain cancer (The Hill, 6/9). At a meeting of the House Democratic Caucus, the leaders of the three House committees charged with crafting health reform legislation outlined a bill with similar provisions to the one being written in the Senate (New York Times, 6/10). The bill -- which is being drafted by the chairs of the House Ways and Means, Energy and Commerce, and Education and Labor committees -- calls for a public plan, an individual mandate, a mandate for employers to help pay for coverage and the creation of a health insurance exchange. Under the House bill, families with incomes up to 400% of the federal poverty level would qualify for subsidies for insurance. The House bill also would expand Medicaid by determining eligibility entirely on income, according to a House aide. Currently, many Medicaid applicants must meet other criteria, such as being a parent, in addition to having a low income, to qualify. The House is expected to release a formal version of the bill next week.Both draft bills released on Tuesday did not include details on how the proposals would be financed. According to the Wall Street Journal the omission gives lawmakers time to better assess the costs involved and promote health reform to the public (Bendavid/Adamy, Wall Street Journal, 6/10).
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Vaxart Begins Animal Testing Of H1N1 Flu Vaccine Candidate

Vaxart, Inc., a biotechnology company focused on the development of oral vaccines, announced today that the company has created a candidate vaccine for H1N1 influenza (swine flu). On Saturday, May 23, Vaxart began testing for immune responses in animals, just 25 days after initiating the project. The company will compare performance of the research-grade H1N1 vaccine to its successful avian flu vaccine as a first step towards potential human clinical testing.