Republican representatives are taking the opportunity to meet with House leadership and Obama administration officials this week to discuss their views and concerns on healthcare reform.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) told reporters he intended to “carry on conversations with my Republican colleagues” on healthcare reform, and would meet with Republican Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.) on Thursday “to determine what we can agree upon.”

In making assessments that the parties could reach 80% agreement on the House reform bill called the America's Affordable Health Choices Act, certain GOP members are showing awareness that “the American people want reform to succeed,” Hoyer said. Personally, Hoyer said he “hadn't yet found that 80% yet, but I'm still going to look” for areas where the party could reach consensus.

He disputed assertions by House GOP Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) that Republicans have been left out of the debate, adding that the minority party has yet to put a solid proposal on the table. Members of the conservative Republican Study Committee, in the meantime, plan to meet with HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius on Wednesday to discuss healthcare reform, congressional aides said.

While pleased the administration “has finally decided to engage House Republicans in the healthcare reform debate,” Rep. Michael Burgess (R-Texas), a member of the Republican Study Committee, believes such a meeting is months overdue. “Unfortunately the cake is already baked in the House of Representatives, with most of the work on the liberal and partisan healthcare reform bill already completed by Speaker [Nancy] Pelosi and Democratic leadership.”

Burgess said he specifically looked forward to discussing the demonstration projects HHS planned to undertake on medical liability reform, although he questioned whether such projects were necessary. Texas' model for medical liability reform has already proven to be effective and successful, Burgess said.


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