Sides still split after health summit

Among the areas where Democrats and Republicans reached for accord:

System overhaul:

Democrats are supporting massive legislation enacting a top-to-bottom overhaul of the system and requiring nearly everyone to be insured. Republicans say that approach needs to be scrapped and they want a step-by-step approach. If there’s somewhere to meet in the middle, lawmakers haven’t found it yet.

Purchasing pools:

The Democratic bills establish state or national purchasing exchanges where individuals and small businesses in need of insurance could pool together and compare federally regulated plans. Democrats say they could accept Republican ideas for associations or small businesses to pool together and shop for health plans if the federal government could set minimum standards, but Republicans don’t want the federal government that involved.

Protecting seniors:

Democrats and Republicans are far apart on how to do it. The Democrats’ legislation cuts hundreds of billions of dollars from Medicare and would use some of the savings to close a coverage gap in Medicare’s prescription drug program. Republicans rail against the cuts. Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., has a plan that would give future Medicare beneficiaries vouchers to shop in the private market.

Keeping children

on their parents’ health plans longer:

This might be one of the few areas where Democrats and Republicans agree — getting health insurers to offer family plans where children can stay covered by their parents until age 25 or 26.

Patriot Act extension

The House voted 315 to 97 to extend the USA Patriot Act, the nation’s primary counterterrorism law, sending the bill to President Barack Obama. Without the bill, the provisions would expire Sunday. The Senate approved the extension Wednesday.

FROM WIRE SERVICES