As I reported yesterday the House and Senate have come to an agreement in conference on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 – a.k.a. the Stimulus Package. House leadership has just announced that a final House vote on the bill will not take place until Friday. Senate passage is also expected by week’s end.
We now know that the conference report contains $10 billion for the NIH ($8.5 billion for research and $1.5 billion for extramural facility improvements), $1 billion for prevention, $1.1 billion for comparative effectiveness research (including an additional $400 million for research at the NIH), and $500 million for HRSA health professionals programs.
February 12, 2009 at 4:07 pm, Kate Murphy said:
This is good news indeed. Not only will critically necessary research go ahead, but good jobs in research will be created or retained, equipment purchased, supplies paid for, and the economy given a strong boost.
The research workforce, from scientist to support team, will have money to spend at the mall and the grocery store.
Health care and health research funding is a great way to bring much-needed dollars into our economy.
February 18, 2009 at 4:02 pm, Annie said:
HAVE HEARD IT INCLUDES 67% PAYMENT OF COBRA BY GOV’T. ANY DETAILS AS TO THE TRUTH, OR PRE QUALIFIERS FOR THAT?
ANNIE
February 18, 2009 at 5:14 pm, Joe Arite said:
The bill provides a 65 percent government subsidy for COBRA continuation premiums for up to 9 months for workers who have been involuntarily terminated (and for their families) between September 1, 2008 and December 31, 2009.
Under the provision in the final bill, the subsidy will terminate when the beneficiary is offered any new employer-sponsored health care coverage or becomes eligible for Medicare. Workers who were involuntarily terminated between September 1, 2008 and the time the bill was signed, but failed to initially buy into COBRA because it was unaffordable, would be given an additional 60 days to elect COBRA and receive the subsidy. The subsidy phases out for individuals with annual incomes beginning at $125,000 and for families with incomes beginning at $250,000.
To read the final conference agreement click here