CBO to release report on Senate health bill's effect on premiums

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) will release a study next week of how the Senate health bill will affect insurance premiums for consumers.

The CBO alerted reporters that they plan to release an analysis of how the Senate bill, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, would impact consumers.

The CBO analysis will add intensity to the healthcare debate in Washington -- set to begin in earnest in the Senate next week -- which has focused in no small part on the effect on consumers' pocketbooks.

Republicans have alleged that the health proposals in the House and Senate would do little to bring down costs and premiums, while Democrats have argued that their reforms and public option program would introduce competition into the health insurance market, which in turn brings down costs.

The report will be released early next week.