Democrats are seeking momentum and votes -- from both Democrats and Republicans -- as leaders work to combine the two versions of reform approved by Senate committees.
The Hill reports that Democrats are preaching unity as their leaders merge the bills: Baucus, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and "Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.), representing the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, met behind closed doors with White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel and several of President Barack Obama's closest advisers. It was the first of many such meetings that Democrats hope will culminate in a bill that will unite the party and retain the support of their lone Republican ally, Sen. Olympia Snowe (Maine)" (Young, 10/14).
The White House team also includes "the budget director, Peter R. Orszag; the health and human services secretary, Kathleen Sebelius; and the health care policy coordinator, Nancy-Ann DeParle," The New York Times reports (Herszenhorn and Pear, 10/14).
NPR reports on what might make it into the final Senate bill. "There are a few certainties: There is little doubt that the ultimate Senate bill will include changes that prohibit insurers from denying coverage to Americans with pre-existing health conditions or canceling coverage when a policyholder gets sick. And both Senate bills contain similar provisions for creating state-based insurance exchanges — or pools — that can be used by poor and low-income individuals and families, and small businesses, to purchase more affordable coverage." An expansion of Medicaid is expected to make the cut as well (Halloran, 10/14).
The Wall Street Journal reports that Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine has signaled a willingness to work with Democrats on reform, complicating efforts by Republicans to slow the debate. "Ms. Collins said the finance-panel bill is the 'best effort so far' on Capitol Hill, though she said she has 'serious concerns' with it, including the impact of Medicare cuts on seniors." With party unity unassured, Democrats are trying to gain as many Republican votes in the Senate that they can to attract the 60 they need to pass reforms (Hitt, Adamy and Bendavid, 10/15).