NATION IN BRIEF : WASHINGTON, D.C. : Health Care Bill Seen Saving U.S. Billions

A House Democratic bill that would slap price controls on the nation’s health system would save the federal government $71 billion a year by the year 2000 and the private sector $175 billion, Majority Leader Richard A. Gephardt (D-Mo.) said. The far-reaching plan provides for an annual federal limit on the nation’s health bill and ceilings on charges by all physicians, hospitals, laboratories and other care providers. The legislation, which will be voted on next week by the House Ways and Means Committee, also would prevent insurance companies from denying coverage to individuals or groups with costly medical problems or to workers with “pre-existing” medical conditions.