It’s another significant event in the US as the The US Health Care Bill this March 21, 2010 voting has finally ended. The HR 1203, HR 3590, HR 4872 or Obama Health Care Reform Vote Results are just important to almost every adult American. Health care has been always a hot topic among Americans and has been much of a debate to many.

The 219-212 vote cleared the Senate version of health care legislation, “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act,” which now heads to the White House for Obama’s signature.

A vote is pending on a second bill, “The Reconciliation Act of 2010,” a package of fixes and modifications to tax items. This will require a separate Senate vote before it can become law.

The Senate bill has 10 major sections and is some 2,400 pages long. The following is a summary of the major provisions of the Patient Protection And Affordable Care Act (HR 3590)

-Seeks to provide “Quality Health Insurance Coverage for All Americans” by amending the Public Health Service Act to prohibit preexisting health condition exclusions from insurance coverage.
-Prohibits a health plan from rescinding coverage of an enrollee except in the case of fraud.
-Health insurance exchanges: requires states to establish an American Health Benefit Exchange for purchase of qualified health insurance plans. Creates a related entity to assist with small business health coverage.
-Directs states to establish one or more reinsurance entities for reinsurance programs to assist in health care coverage.
-Individual coverage, penalties: requires individuals to maintain minimal health care coverage beginning in 2014. Imposes a penalty for failure to maintain such coverage with exceptions for low-income individuals, members of Indian tribes, people who object on religious grounds.
-Penalties for medium-sized Businesses: requires employers of 50 workers who don’t offer coverage to pay a fee up to $750 per worker.
-Creates a Small Business Tax Credit: beginning in 2010, small employers can elect a tax credit for 50% of their employee health care coverage expenses. Small employers are generally defined as businesses with no more than 25 employees.
-On abortion, permits states to prohibit abortion coverage in qualified health plans offered through an exchange in the state. It prohibits federal funds from being used for abortion services and requires separate accounts for payments for such services.
-On Medicaid, the bill seeks to extend Medicaid coverage, beginning in calendar 2014, to certain low-income individuals under age 65. States can expand Medicaid eligibility to these people as early as April 1, 2010.
-Sets new standards for Medicare payment to hospitals and doctors by linking “payment to quality outcomes under the Medicare Program.”
-Maintains Children’s Health Insurance Program funding for two years through fiscal year 2015.
-Medicaid Prescription Drug Coverage: seeks to close a gap in seniors’ prescription drug coverage known as the donut hole.
-Expands funding for Community Health Centers.
-Expands doctors and health care services, particularly in rural and underserved areas: increases loans made by schools to nursing students. Expands various health care professional training programs.
-To curb fraud and potential conflicts of interest, bill would require drug, device, biological and medical supply manufacturers to report “transfers of value” made to a medical professionals. Requires disclosure of physician ownership or investment interest in a manufacturer and new disclosure requirements for nursing homes.
-Implements the “Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act of 2009″ that gives drug makers 12 years of protection, or exclusivity, to sell biologic medicines before facing the threat of cheaper, off-brand alternatives.

More about HR 3590 on this link.