The healthcare overhaul bill produced by House Democrats would impose an array of new taxes, fees, and government mandates on major players in the health industry, including insurers, doctors, and drug and medical device makers. In most cases, the pain has been meted out with an eye toward raising the money needed to finance President Barack Obama's plan for reshaping the health system, but also with careful regard for gaining the votes that will be needed to pass a final bill. Democrats hope to vote next week on the measure, which would extend health coverage to tens of millions of Americans who don't have it, impose sweeping new restrictions on private insurers, and create a government-run insurance plan to compete against them.
