WASHINGTON - Congressional Democrats are very close to reaching final agreement on healthcare reform legislation and could have a deal in days, House of Representatives Democratic Leader Steny Hoyer said on Friday.

I would certainly hope that within the next 24, 48, 72 hours, that we have a general agreement between the Senate and the House, Hoyer, a Maryland Democrat, said in an interview with U.S. cable network CNBC.

Reform of the $2.5 trillion healthcare sector is the top legislative priority for President Barack Obama. The House and Senate versions of the overhaul must be melded into one bill and passed again by each chamber before Obama can sign it.

(Reporting by David Morgan, editing by Matthew Bigg)

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