The Senate version of the reform bill passed this morning (with its President, Joe Biden, presiding) with a 60-39 vote straight down party lines (Dem caucus all votes “yes”, with the Repubs going the other way). I’ll pause right now to note the historical significance of this vote on Christmas Eve 2009.

<crickets> </crickets>

Now for the bread and butter. The House/Senate versions of the reform bill have to be merged in conference after the holidays. Generally, progressives and grassroots reformers will be supporting the House version with Insurance and Pharma kissing up to the Senate. The chair of the House Rules Committee is making it known that when it comes to promoting real reform (in the mold of liberals & progressives) — the Senate version will not be the final word. (I’ll believe that when I see it, as the influence of Pharma and Insurance is just too powerful for the House to stick to their guns with a public option provision by the time Obama’s pen gives its final blessing.)

And so wraps up the biggest and most contentious issue of the 2009 session. Merry Christmas from Doctor Pundit and Happy New Year; two-thousand ten looks to be another interesting one for healthcare policy.

UPDATE: Obama has released his statement on the vote. It follows after the jump.

The reform bill that passed the Senate this morning, like the House bill, includes the toughest measures ever taken to hold the insurance industry accountable. Insurance companies will no longer be able to deny you coverage on the basis of a preexisting condition. They will no longer be able to drop your coverage when you get sick. No longer will you have to pay unlimited amounts out of your own pocket for the treatments you need. And you’ll be able to appeal unfair decisions by insurance companies to an independent party.

Read the rest of it. Looking through much of the platitudes the president has for what the Senate has passed — it isn’t hard to overlook the fact that what high-profile provisions that made it through the Senate vote were issues that everyone agreed upon as a default. Pre-existing condition denials, more generous appeal processes, the “cooperation” of Pharma in reining in out of control drug prices — these are all pre-arranged “accomplishments”, according to Obama’s base (progressives) and others who thought they were getting real reform with his election. Their influence as a lobby will be put to the test when merging of the House and Senate versions take place next month.

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