Trending News Today: Senate Continues to Push for Vote on Healthcare Reform Bill

Senate GOP leaders are pushing for a vote on healthcare reform legislation as soon as next week. To gain more support and quell concerns from conservatives and moderates, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) is planning to present lawmakers with a revised draft of the bill this week, according to Politico. The new text could be presented within days, with the Congressional Budget Office offering a score as soon as Monday. The revisions are aimed at easing the concerns of legislators who feel the bill may result in too many uninsured Americans, according to the article.

Senate Democrats are now looking to Republican governors as allies against the current healthcare reform legislation, according to The Washington Post. The senators are especially seeking partnerships with governors who chose to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. The alignment of senators and governors shows that Democrats are willing to insert themselves into the legislative process dominated by the GOP, while also highlighting how the Better Care Reconciliation may have split the party, according to the Post.

Unexpected health crises can result in substantial debt, which affects credit scores and can harm a person’s financial future. The methods credit agencies use to report and evaluate medical debt are being revised to reduce the negative impact the bills have on credit scores, according to Kaiser Health News. Three major credit reporting companies will now wait 180 days before including medical debt in reports to ensure that any potential issues can be resolved. Additionally, Kaiser reported that credit companies will remove medical debt once it is paid by an insurer.