From Congresswoman Chellie Pingree

The current health care reform picture in Washington . . . The atmosphere in Washington is like no other time – people are more ready than they have ever been for substantial health care reform. We have a real opportunity to enact major health care reform that will provide Americans with better access to affordable, high quality care – and President Obama initiated this process by budgeting $634 billion for health reform. I am in frequent talks with the Speaker, Majority Leader, and Committee Chairs, and all three committees of jurisdiction in the House (Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means, Education and Labor) that are working on the same bill. As I write this now, our goal is to pass a bill by the end of July and we are hopeful that a final piece of legislation could be signed by the President as early as this fall. Drafts of the health reform legislation are now being circulated that will build upon the existing health care structure. The President affirmed, “if you like what you have you can keep it,” and the proposed package includes a menu of options to choose from, investments in Medicaid and Medicare – in fact I am circulating a letter to all of my colleagues supporting a robust Medicaid system, which is critical for Maine – and private health insurance options, with increased regulation, no denial for pre-existing conditions and reasonable cost-sharing. Last but not least, it is important to me that the bill includes a public plan option, which should increase choice and competition, be stable and open to everyone, and grow to meet the needs of a large influx of people over time. Click here for more on the House draft legislation