Posted at: 11/03/2009 11:42 AM

House GOP Offers 230-Page Health Bill

WASHINGTON (AP) - House Republicans have produced a health care bill to offer as an alternative to legislation by majority Democrats, focusing more on lowering costs than expanding coverage.

The bill is 230 pages long, compared with Democrats' 1,990-page measure. Unlike the Democrats' legislation it has no requirement for people to buy insurance and no prohibitions against insurance companies denying coverage to people with pre-existing medical conditions.

The Republican bill caps non-economic damages in medical malpractice cases, increases incentives for people to use health savings accounts and encourages creation of insurance pools for high-risk individuals.

The Associated Press obtained a draft of the bill. Aides to Minority Leader John Boehner cautioned the measure was not final and changes were being made.