Thursday, May 12, 2005

New Panel Will Study Medicaid With Eyes Toward Big Changes New York Times story - "The Bush administration will create an advisory panel to recommend big changes in Medicaid eligibility and benefits and in the financing of the program, administration officials said Wednesday. By Sept. 1, the panel is to recommend ways to save $10 billion in Medicaid, the federal-state program that insures more than 50 million low-income people. A charter establishing the commission says that by Dec. 31, 2006, it will make 'longer-term recommendations on the future of the Medicaid program.' The commission will have up to 15 voting members and 18 nonvoting members. The voting members will all be appointed by Michael O. Leavitt, the secretary of health and human services. Mr. Leavitt rejected bipartisan Congressional pleas for an independent commission under the auspices of the National Academy of Sciences." [Viewing New York Times resources requires registration, which is free].