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Health Care Changes Could Be Voted on by House This Week

The stage is set for final congressional action on Democrats' health care overhaul. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., on Friday outlined provisions of a health care "corrections" bill that she hopes the House will pass as early as this Thursday. House Democrats plan to take the package to the Budget Committee Monday, a step required under House procedures. The Rules Committee could receive the bill as early as Wednesday, which would clear the way for a House vote as early as this Thursday.

Pelosi said the measure does away with controversial provisions such as the "Cornhusker kickback," which would have given only Nebraska financial relief on Medicaid costs. The proposal would also speed up closing the gap in Medicare's prescription drug benefits. The corrections bill would also limit the so-called tax on "Cadillac health care plans."  

To finish its work on health care legislation, the House must pass the Senate bill as well as the new measure, which is intended to address concerns of various blocs of House members. The changes to the Senate bill largely follow the outline issued by President Obama on February 22.