House Democrats "pull together" on health bill

By Susan Heavey

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democrats on the House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee have agreed to numerous changes to healthcare legislation currently under review, panel chairman Henry Waxman said on Friday.

"We've agreed that we need to pull together," Waxman told reporters before starting to work on the measure, adding that the diverse group of Democrats has agreed on a package of amendments for the bill.

The compromise is a way to appease more conservative "Blue Dog" Democrats concerned about the legislation's costs while satisfying more liberal members of the panel who want to see broader healthcare coverage.

Waxman, flanked by his Democratic colleagues, said the changes would include a number of additional savings but declined to offer more specifics. He said the agreement was reached last night and that he hoped to wrap up work on the bill this afternoon.

The compromise will include changes that will directly affect the pharmaceutical industry and health insurance companies, Democrats told reporters.

Rep. Jane Harman, a California Democrat, said the House bill would include "a robust public option" for people to get health insurance, but did not offer details.

"Insurance companies will be held accountable," another California Democrat, Rep. Lois Capps, said.

Harman also said that additional cost savings would come from drug companies. "They need to step up and do more," she said.

(Reporting by Susan Heavey; Editing by Eric Walsh)