Senate Panel OKs Health Bill
The Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee today approved a controversial bill that would require employers to provide health coverage to more than 20 million uninsured people.
The 10-6 vote came after nearly two hours of discussion ranging from denunciations of the insurance industry to a spirited debate over socialism and senators’ own health coverage. The so-called “minimum health” bill sponsored by Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) would require employers to offer a minimum package that includes hospital care, doctor care, diagnostic and screening tests, prenatal and well-baby care and limited mental health treatment. The policies would cap out-of-pocket catastrophic costs at $3,000.
Get the L.A. Times Politics newsletter
Deeply reported insights into legislation, politics and policy from Sacramento, Washington and beyond. In your inbox three times per week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
