Medicine & Healthcare

A Senate panel has until Sept. 15 to deliver a bipartisan healthcare overhaul package before Democratic leaders take steps to push a bill without broad Republican support, a senior member of the Finance Committee said. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), vice chairman of the Democratic Conference, said that the party has "contingencies in place" that would make it highly likely a bill could pass the Senate without GOP votes, but warned such mechanisms would be used as a "last resort." "Healthcare reform is just too important," he said, adding that it can't be left to "wither on the vine."