FACTBOX-US senators line up health bill amendments

WASHINGTON Dec 4 (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate is debating a sweeping healthcare overhaul backed by President Barack Obama.

Senators are expected to consider dozens of amendments during the debate, which could run until Christmas, but are likely to vote on only a few. It is up to Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell to work out an agreement on which ones will be voted on.

Here is a summary of the latest Senate action on amendments to the healthcare overhaul bill:

* Rejected a measure to restore $120 billion in spending for Medicare Advantage, a program that delivers Medicare health benefits for the elderly through private health providers such as Humana Inc (HUM.N). The amendment was sponsored by Republican Senator Orrin Hatch. Republicans champion the program as an effective way to deliver Medicare services. But Democrats argued that the program's subsidies are significantly higher than the cost of delivering care through traditional Medicare.

* Approved a measure offered by Democrat Debbie Stabenow that says nothing in the legislation can reduce or eliminate guaranteed benefits in the Medicare health program for the elderly. This language will help provide political cover for Democrats who voted against Republican efforts to restore spending for Medicare.

* Rejected a measure offered by Republican John Thune that would have stripped out of the bill a provision establishing a new long-term care insurance program to cover services for the severely disabled that would help them stay in their homes and communities. Opponents say the program would create a costly new entitlement at a time of huge budget deficits. Supporters say the program is financed through premiums.

* Approved a measure that ensures premiums collected for the proposed long-term care insurance program are set aside to ensure the program's solvency. The measure also said any savings for Social Security from the healthcare bill should be reserved to shore up the finances of the retirement program.

* The Senate is now debating a measure by Senator Blanche Lincoln to limit the tax deduction for executive pay for health insurers who participate in Medicare. Companies would be allowed to deduct $400,000. The bill currently sets the limit at $500,000. The proposal could raise $651 million in revenue over 10 years, but could also be used by Democrats as bargaining chip in ongoing negotiations with health insurers over the legislation.

AMENDMENTS PREVIOUSLY ACCEPTED BY THE SENATE:

* A measure providing coverage for mammograms and other women's preventive health screening at no cost to patients. Sponsored by Democratic Senator Barbara Mikulski, the amendment was seen as helping blunt charges by Republican opponents that healthcare reform would lead to government rationing of care.

* A measure to ensure that Medicare cost savings in the bill will be used to shore up the solvency of the medical program for the elderly, lower premiums and improve the quality of care. The amendment was seen as giving political cover to Democrats who rejected Republican efforts to restore money for the program. The bill calls for more than $400 billion in Medicare spending cuts.

MAJOR AMENDMENTS OFFERED FOR POSSIBLE CONSIDERATION:

* A measure by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, a Democrat, and 18 other senators that would repeal federal antitrust law exemptions for the health insurance and medical malpractice insurance industries that have existed since 1945. Supporters say it will help guarantee more competition. But Democratic leaders cannot afford to lose a single member of their party on the healthcare reform bill and Democratic Senator Ben Nelson, who is undecided on the broader healthcare reform bill, opposes taking away the antitrust exemption.

* A measure that would allow U.S.-licensed pharmacies and drug wholesalers to import medications approved by the Food and Drug Administration from Canada, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Japan. Prices in these countries are as much as 55 percent lower than in the United States. Savings would be passed on to U.S. customers, but the pharmaceutical industry, which so far has been supportive of the healthcare overhaul effort, adamantly opposes the measure. It is sponsored by a bipartisan group of senators including Democrats Byron Dorgan and Debbie Stabenow and Republicans Olympia Snowe and John McCain. (Reporting by Donna Smith; editing by Anthony Boadle) ((Donna.M.Smith@ThomsonReuters.com))