The Senate leadership on Wednesday released its latest comprehensive health care reform proposal. Today, Saturday, November 21, the Senate will take the first step in passing this legislation by proceeding with a cloture vote on the bill. Cloture is a procedural measure to place a time limit on the consideration of the bill, therefore overcoming a filibuster. The Senate needs 60 votes in order to move forward. Failure on this procedural vote could leave the passage of health care reform in question. If the motion passes, the Senate is expected to debate the proposal and vote on final passage after the Thanksgiving recess.

The cloture vote is scheduled for 8 pm tonight to be followed by floor debate on the legislation in early December. The proposal includes several must past Medicare provisions, including a one year extension of the therapy cap exceptions process, as well as averting the proposed 21% decrease to the 2010 Medicare physician fee schedule with a modest .5% increase. For additional information, please contact Ingrida Lusis, ASHA's Director of Federal and Political Advocacy, at ilusis@asha.org.