More Hill News

• Rep. Danny Davis (D Ill) has reintroduced his bill (HR 2978) to increase the maximum age for dependent children under the FEHBP from 22 to 25. The bill has been referred to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

• The Federal Workforce Subcommittee of that House Committee has scheduled a hearing for July 8, at 2 p.m., on the bill (HR 2517) that would extend FEHBP coverage, among other federal employee benefits, to same sex domestic partners of federal employees.

• Business Insurance reports that "Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus said Thursday the panel had agreed to trim the cost of its health care overhaul plan to $1 trillion and could pay for it without increasing the budget deficit." The Senate Finance Committee also issued the following press release:

  Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D‐Mont.), Ranking
  Member Chuck Grassley (R‐Iowa) and committee members Orrin Hatch (R‐Utah), Jeff Bingaman (D‐NM), Kent Conrad (D‐ND), Olympia Snowe (R‐Maine) and Mike Enzi (R‐Wyo.) issued the following statement today regarding the committee’s efforts to craft a health care reform bill:
  
  “Reforming America’s health care system is a tremendous challenge, but it’s a
  challenge we simply have to face. The issues facing reform are difficult and complex, but over the past several months, we’ve made progress toward workable solutions. As we have been for the last several weeks, we are committed to continuing our work toward a bipartisan bill that will lower costs and ensure quality, affordable care for every American.”