This week: Will healthcare reform be halted?

The House will consider a bill that repeals the reform law’s 1099 reporting requirement, House aides said this week. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that the provision moves closer to elimination.

Democrats on the House Ways and Means panel voted against the bill because it would increase the amount of money that feds can recapture from people participating in state health exchanges who earn too much to qualify for subsidies. Meanwhile, panel Republicans were wary of embracing the Senate’s bill, which pays for repeal by authorizing the Office of Management and Budget to identify unobligated funds.

Tuesday’s focus will be on the reform law’s expansion of state Medicaid programs for the poor. With more than half the nation’s governors asking for HHS to relax Medicaid eligibility requirements, the Energy and Commerce Committee will hold a Tuesday hearing about the reform law’s impact on Medicaid and state healthcare.

The contentious abortion debate will be front and center next week when the full House Judiciary Committee marks up H.R. 3, the “No Taxpayer Funding for Abortions Act” on Wednesday. Rep. Chris Smith’s (R-N.J.) bill would eliminate tax benefits for private health plans that cover abortion.

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius returns to the Hill on Thursday to defend the healthcare reform law and President Obama’s 2012 budget before the House Energy and Commerce health subpanel.

Congress on Wednesday turns its attention to combating fraud in government health programs. The Senate Finance Committee and the House Ways and Means oversight subpanel will both hold hearings on the topic.

Off the Hill, the Federation of American Hospitals has a star-studded lineup in store for its annual conference. Those scheduled to speak on Tuesday include Mississippi Gov. and possible Republican presidential candidate Haley Barbour, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.), Medicare and Medicaid chief Don Berwick, Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), Senate HELP Chairman Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) and House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp (R-Mich.).

The Institute of Medicine will hold its second meeting on essential health benefits required by healthcare reform. The meeting will be held Wednesday and Thursday in California.

The American Constitution Society for Law and Policy will host a debate Thursday on the constitutionality of healthcare reform. Former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) will participate in the event at the Center or American Progress.