Health Care Reform: So Close, Yet So Far

The push for health care reform intensified this week with investors wondering if Dems can find the 216 votes needed to pass the bill in the House.

Right now the House Budget Committee has started its drive toward a final vote, advancing changes sought by House Democrats and President Obama to the Senate-passed healthcare bill.

House Democratic vote-counters say they are still short of the votes necessary to pass the overhaul but Speaker Pelosi was confident they will hit the magic number by week's end.

"When we bring the bill to the floor, we will have the votes," Pelosi told reporters.

What’s the trade?

Althohgh you may haer Intrade say there's a 72% chance reform passes by June, or Goldman Sachs say there’s at least a 50% plus chance -- Daniel Clifton of Strategas says not so fast.

”They’re at least 4 votes short and when you talk to the rank and file they don’t want to touch this. Health care is a liability in their district.”

”I think health care dies on the vine over the next week or two,” he adds. And if this bill fails investors will see a sharp decline in hospitals and Medicaid HMOs because they’re already pricing in the benefit of reform,” Clifton adds.

Now might be the time to take a fresh look at UNH, counsels Pete Najarian.

What do you think? We want to know!

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