In an attempt to reenergize broad healthcare reform, which has been stalled in recent weeks, President Obama has scheduled a nationally televised bipartisan healthcare summit for February 25th.  Several legislative strategies have been discussed to reconcile the different versions of the bills passed by the House and Senate.  At this point, there is no clear pathway that has been agreed to by the Democratic leadership.

As Congress returns from the President’s Day recess on February 22, the House intends to consider antitrust reform legislation. The most likely candidate for consideration is a bill authored by Reps. Tom Perriello, D-Va., and Betsy Markey, D-Co. that would eliminate the current federal antitrust exemption for health and medical malpractice insurance companies with respect to price fixing, collusion and market setting.