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Senators are expected to consider dozens of amendments during the debate, which could run until Christmas, but are likely to vote on only a few.The senators are having a close view on the ammendments.

The Senate is debating an amendment that would allow U.S. licensed pharmacies and drug wholesalers to import medications approved by the Food and Drug Administration from Canada, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Japan. Prices in these countries are as much as 55 percent lower than in the United States. Savings would be passed on to U.S. customers, but the pharmaceutical industry, which so far has been supportive of the healthcare reform overhaul effort, adamantly opposes the measure.

 Supporters said it would have protected current restrictions against using taxpayer money to finance abortions.Opponents said it went too far and would have made healthcare reform policies with abortion coverage unavailable even to those purchasing plans without subsidies. Rejected a measure offered by Republican John Thune that would have stripped out of the bill a provision establishing a new long-term care insurance program to cover services for the severely disabled that would help them stay in their homes and communities. Approved a measure that ensures premiums collected for the proposed long-term care insurance program are set aside to ensure the program's solvency.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to offer an  amendment that could include a compromise that would replace the government-run public insurance option in the bill with a plan to have the federal Office of Personnel Management,which administers healthcare reform coverage for federal workers, to contract with insurers to set up nonprofit plans that would be offered on state-based exchanges. The compromise also would allow people between the ages of 55 and 64 to buy into Medicare.  A package of measures aimed at encouraging innovation in the health system and lowering consumer costs.

Source: Reuters

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