Employee-Paid

The House could vote on final passage of the package later today.

Earlier, Avik Roy testified that the root cause of high U.S. costs is the employer health tax exclusion.

Many types of service providers would have to let employers audit them for signs of prescription drug rebate problems.

Roughly 400,000 to 800,000 U.S. residents might be using cash from individual coverage health reimbursement arrangements or similar arrangements to pay for their health insurance this year.

Growth in what employers spent on premiums slowed, and overall health spending slowed even more.

On Friday, the U.S. Department of Education announced wage garnishment practices are back on hold, as the administration revamps student loan repayment plans, efforts that are expected to be finalized this summer.