The leaders of the three committees in the House of Representatives charged with creating health care reform legislation released an outline of their health reform agenda June 9 following a briefing for the members of the Democratic Caucus.

Highlights from the House Committees on Ways and Means, Energy and Commerce and Education and Labor include:

• the establishment of a health insurance exchange with a public health insurance option,
• sliding scale affordability credits within the exchange for those with incomes between Medicaid eligibility and 400% of the federal poverty level,
• the creation of an independent advisory committee to recommend benefit packages,
•  standardized benefit levels and cost-sharing arrangements,
• an employer requirement to provide coverage or pay a fee.

The Ways and Means, Energy and Commerce, and Education and Labor chairmen, Reps. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.), Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) and George Miller (D-Calif.), respectively, released a joint statement following the briefing.

"By improving the current system and offering a public health insurance option to promote honest competition with private insurance plans, we will provide individuals and small businesses with better, more affordable choices," the statement read in part. 

In sync with the timetable goals on the Senate side, the chairmen stated that they anticipate legislation to be on the House floor before the August recess.