It is probably an understatement to say that the federal government is swimming in reports that are mandated by the Congress.  So it shouldn't be a surprise that health care plans from Democrats would mean even more.

The health care bill moving through the House contains language requiring dozens of new reports by various federal agencies.

I counted at least 54 of them.

"The Secretary shall submit to the Congress an annual report on the program of research under this section," the bill says on page 950.

"The Secretary shall submit to the Congress an annual report on the program of grants awarded under this section," it says on page 954.

"The Secretary shall submit to the Congress an annual report on the data collected under subsection (a)," reads a line on page 927.

You get the picture.

"Within 3 years after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary shall submit to the Congress an interim report on the evaluation conducted pursuant to paragraph (1)," it says on page 848.

Not only is it obvious that Congress wants reports on certain issues, but the bill goes to great lengths to lay out what should be in these reports.

On page 645, the bill requires a report "not later than April 1 of each year beginning with 2011," that includes:

"(1) The information submitted under this section during the preceding year, aggregated for each applicable manufacturer or distributor of a covered drug, device, biological, or medical supply that submitted such information during such year"

"(2) A description of any enforcement actions taken to carry out this section, including any penalties imposed under subsection (d), during the preceding year."

By the way, all of this is about Section 1128H, entitled, "Financial Reports on Physicians' Financial Relationships with Manufacturers and Distributors of Covered Drugs, Devices, Biologicals, Or Medical Supplies Under Medicare, Medicaid, Or CHIP And With Entities That Bill For Services Under Medicare."

Have you read H.R. 3200 yet?  Maybe you might find something I have missed.

You can download your own copy of the legislation at http://bit.ly/nSL2A