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<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message -----
<DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A
title=mexline@swbell.net href="mailto:mexline@swbell.net">Marty Exline</A>
</DIV>
<DIV><B>To:</B> <A title=modisabilaw@lists.mo.gov
href="mailto:modisabilaw@lists.mo.gov">MO Disability Policy/Law Listserv</A>
</DIV>
<DIV><B>Sent:</B> Thursday, July 02, 2009 3:08 PM</DIV>
<DIV><B>Subject:</B> [Modisabilaw] Health Care Reform - Senate
Update</DIV></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV>
<P><FONT size=4>The <SPAN class=075145919-02072009>U.S. </SPAN>Senate
Health, Education, Labor and Pensions<STRONG> (HELP) Committee</STRONG> released
the latest version of its heathcare reform bill today. The <SPAN
class=075145919-02072009>cost </SPAN>estimate for the new proposal <SPAN
class=075145919-02072009>is</SPAN> for $611 billion over 10 years, considerably
below the previous <SPAN class=075145919-02072009>version's </SPAN>estimate
of over $1 trillion. The estimate does not include the costs of proposals for
expanding Medicaid eligibility nor potential savings from a new Medicare payment
proposal.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=4>The HELP bill does include the <STRONG>Community Living
Assistance Supports and Services (CLASS) Act</STRONG> that would provide a cash
benefit for persons with disabilities to obtain long-term services and
supports.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=4>The <STRONG>Senate Finance Committee</STRONG> is still in
negotiations on its version of the bill, which is expected to receive more
bipartisan support. There are doubts as to the extent to which long-term
services and supports will be included in the Finance Committee version. Aspects
of the <SPAN class=075145919-02072009>Senate </SPAN><SPAN
class=075145919-02072009>HELP </SPAN>proposal are expected to be blended
into <SPAN class=075145919-02072009>the Senate Finance
version</SPAN> before consideration by the full Senate<SPAN
class=075145919-02072009> expected sometime in July</SPAN>.</FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=075145919-02072009>###</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
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<P></P>_______________________________________________<BR>Modisabilaw mailing
list<BR>Modisabilaw@lists.mo.gov<BR>http://lists.mo.gov/mailman/listinfo/modisabilaw<BR>
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