The push for health care reform is moving fast and furiously, so I thought it’d be helpful to have semi-daily “Health on the Hill” updates that should help you keep track of the reform debate and get to the meat of the issue. Enjoy!

Today’s Updates – 11/6/09:

The House of Representatives is scheduled to begin debate on their health care bill, The Affordable Health Care for America Act – H.R. 3962, this weekend.  The final House legislation was released a couple weeks ago and is now ready to be voted on by our Representatives. However, as has been the case throughout this entire health care reform process, there may be some delays that would push the vote back to Monday or Tuesday — “some delays” meaning: more discussions about abortion and immigration to stall the way-bigger-than-those-two-issues health care bill.

This bill, which — among many other things — will contain costs, end discrimination based on pre-existing conditions or gender, extend coverage for young adults under their parents’ plan, and provide a public insurance plan that will compete with private plans, has not included language about keeping illegal immigrants from buying insurance in the new insurance marketplace, and this one omission is bothering many Representatives. However the bill does state that illegal immigrants will not be eligible to receive federal subsidies to purchase insurance. So even though the bill requires illegal immigrants to buy insurance or be fined with a penalty tax,  it is not going to help them purchase it.  Awesome — makes perfect sense.

Another reform deal-breaker for many Reps is abortion, and although the House bill clearly states that federal funds given out under reform will not be used to cover abortion, this language isn’t good enough for some and they are fighting to include amendments that strengthen the prohibition for abortion funds.  Why abortion cannot be covered like any other medical procedure we have a right to is beyond me, but my opinion, and that of millions of others, is apparently neither here nor there in this debate.

Another topic of discussion that is sure to be included in tomorrow’s debate is the GOP’s alternative health care bill. Or, what I like to call, a plan only insurance companies could love, or the bill that will leave 52 million people uninsured and actually charge more for people with pre-existing conditions. Way to go guys. Luckily, the Republican bill has no chance of passing, but they had to produce something since all they were doing all these months was saying “no” to the other bills on the table.

So this is it.  After the GOP bill gets laughed off of the stage and immigrants and abortion likely barred from being covered, the House will vote to pass their first piece of health care reform legislation. But while they decide their vote they have to hear from you. Especially after hearing from anti-reform crowds led by our favorite Rep. Bachmann yesterday.

A man at the Bachmann protest yesterday holds this sign –which doesn’t even make any sense.

It’s your turn to make your voice heard: Contact your Rep NOW and urge them to pass the House Health Care bill, H.R. 3962!