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Sens. Kennedy, Dodd unveil health care reform bill

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WASHINGTON—The stage is set for federal lawmakers to consider comprehensive health care reform legislation with the unveiling Tuesday of sweeping legislation proposed by Sens. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., and Chris Dodd, D-Conn.

The bill will be considered by Sen. Kennedy’s Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee beginning June 16, Sen. Dodd said.

While the 615-page bill, titled “Affordable Health Choices Act,” deals with dozens of reform issues, it sidesteps for now the controversial issue of whether employers should be required to provide coverage.

That issue, according to the measure, remains under discussion, though the bill says federal tax credits would be available to employers with up to 50 employees who offer health insurance coverage.

The bill also proposes that the federal government reinsure those employers offering health care coverage to retirees between the ages of 55 and 64. The government would reinsure 80% of each claim of between $15,000 and $90,000.

Other provisions closely track a draft outline made available last week, including the elimination of annual and lifetime dollar limits on health care expenses plans cover and giving the states authority to set up exchanges where employers and individuals could select health care plans offered by insurers.

“We still have a lot of work head of us and are looking forward to working with our colleagues on a bipartisan basis to resolve the remaining issues and move forward,” Sen. Dodd said in a statement.