The Senate voted for passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act at 7am on December 24 by a party-line vote of 60-39. Upon returning from recess in January, Congress will have to reconcile the differences between the House and Senate bills. The final healthcare reform bill will most likely resemble what is in the Senate bill. The tentative goal is to have a final bill to the President’s desk by the State of the Union (mid to late January), though the White House has acknowledged that Congress has many priorities to tackle early in the year.

The National Rural Health Association has been working hard to ensure there are strong rural provisions in any healthcare reform proposal. Please visit the NRHA website to see specifics of what is included in the Senate and House proposals.