Gang of six health overhaul set for unveiling

A health care reform bill being worked on by a bipartisan group of Senate Finance Committee members is expected to become reality this week.
   
After weeks of negotiations by the gang of six, committee Chairman Max Baucus says he’ll have a formal proposal by the middle of the week. He’s set to announce it tomorrow and Baucus says he hopes Republicans sign onto it.
   
Negotiators have brought the cost of the bill down to $880 billion over 10 years but still need to iron out some key issues. They include creation of a verification system to prevent illegal immigrants from getting government subsidies to buy health coverage.
   
The senators say they’ve come up with ways to cut the cost of a Medicaid expansion so more people near the federal poverty line are covered. Its a key issue for governors since states share in Medicaid costs.
   
Iowa Republican Sen. Charles Grassley says he’d like the bill to cost even less.