Senate and House final vote approves US healthcare bill amendments

A package of amendments to the landmark US health care reform law, which extends coverage to 32 million more Americans, has passed its final Congress vote, despite efforts by Republicans to stop it.

The US House of Representatives backed amendments by 220 votes to 207. The vote was needed after a number of Republican objections. The Senate earlier voted for the package by 56-43. Two points, which Democrats say are minor, were deleted. President Barack Obama has already signed the main bill into law. He will now be able to apply a final signature, which is expected within days.

The UK public broadcaster BBC's Richard Lister in Washington DC says that, in recent days, Democrats have begun to seize back control of the health care argument, and opinion polls suggest that more Americans now believe this reform is a good idea. However, he adds, Republicans are threatening to reform or repeal this legislation should they gain control in the mid-term elections in November.