No easy feat to close health deal

WASHINGTON: After weeks of debate, the US Senate passed a landmark healthcare bill on Thursday, which would greatly expand healthcare coverage and usher in the biggest change in the U.S. healthcare system in decades.

The rare Christmas-eve vote sent a hard-won victory for President Barack Obama and his fellow Democrats, marking an important step toward the end of the deal. But the final step - reconciling the Senate bill with the one passed by the House of Representatives last month - remains a challenge.

'Incredibly close'