Friday, May 13, 2005

Medicaid Commission Draws Unusual Interest Reuters Health story at Medscape - "When it comes to the Medicaid health program for the poor, the question in Washington has moved from whether to cut the program to how. The budget blueprint approved by the US Congress late last month calls for legislation to trim Medicaid spending by $10 billion over 5 years. But, in a compromise with moderate Republicans in the Senate, the deadline for that legislation to be written was pushed back to September, and the Bush administration agreed to appoint a bipartisan commission to make recommendations for how the program should be restructured. Now, however, the debate has turned to what type of commission will be created -- and how seriously Congress will take those recommendations." [Viewing Medscape resources requires registration, which is free].