House Proposal to Defund Health Reform Would Carry Heavy Cost

We’ve issued a brief analysis of a proposal the House is expected to vote on tonight or tomorrow that would effectively block progress on health reform for the rest of the fiscal year.

The proposal, an amendment by Rep. Denny Rehberg (R-MT) to the fiscal year 2011 continuing resolution now on the House floor, would bar the use of any funds provided by the legislation to implement any aspect of the Affordable Care Act, the health reform law enacted last year.

If enacted, it would block the law’s initiatives designed to protect consumers, slow health care cost growth, strengthen program integrity in Medicare and Medicaid, improve Medicare coverage for seniors and people with disabilities, and help states prepare for the major coverage elements of the law slated to take effect in 2014.

You can read the analysis here.