Hospitals Near Health Care Reform Pact

Baucus said in a brief interview last month he was negotiating with several health care industries in a search for money to cover the cost of legislation, which is expected to reach $1 trillion.

Elizabeth Lietz, a spokeswoman for the American Hospital Association, said the group is "talking with folks on health care reform, including the Finance Committee and the White House and other groups. But at this time we have nothing to report."

A spokesman at the Federation of American Hospitals declined to comment.

The nation's 624 Catholic hospitals are also involved in the discussions. A spokesman, Fred Caesar, also declined comment.

Under legislation taking shape in the House as well as the Senate, millions of uninsured Americans would receive coverage over the next few years, creating a huge new pool of customers -- and possible source of income -- for hospitals, drug companies, doctors and insurance companies. As a result, these industries are under pressure from the Obama administration and lawmakers to give up some of the fees they are currently scheduled to receive under the current system.