The Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday by voice vote approved a bill (S 1200) that would revise and reauthorize the Indian Health Care Improvement Act through 2017 at a cost of $16 billion over five years and $35 billion over 10 years, CQ Today reports.

The legislation would allow American Indian health care organizations to participate more fully in Medicare and Medicaid and would limit premiums for tribal members. In addition, the bill would allow American Indian health care organizations to participate in SCHIP for the first time. The Senate Indian Affairs Committee in May approved the legislation, and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has said that he would hold a floor vote on the bill (Armstrong, CQ Today, 9/12).