NGA, Finance Committee not thrilled about Medicaid commission's recommendations: proposals affect drug reimbursement, eligibility and tax treatment of MCOs.(Medicaid)

Publication: Medicine & Health

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COPYRIGHT 2005 Eli Research, Inc.

The controversial Commission on Medicaid Reform submitted its report to Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt on Sept. 1 with recommendations for achieving $11 billion in savings during the next five years.

Congressional leaders greeted the proposals without much enthusiasm. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) said they would be "considered" in budget reconciliation talks to meet a Sept. 16 deadline. "It's premature to discuss the likelihood that any one option will be included in the Finance Committee package," he said in a statement. Ranking member Senator Baucus (D-MT) commented afterward that some of the Commission's ideas had merit and may warrant consideration in the $10 billion budget reconciliation package, though he believes that "all those savings should not come from Medicaid." The Commission noted that enrollment growth in the Medicaid program would play a large part in determining future spending. For the five-year period from 1998 to 2003, total enrollment in the program increased by 30...

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