Medicare Compliance & Reimbursement

LEGISLATION:

Senate Subs Medicaid Commission For Cuts

Dems all vote 'yea' for resolution.

In a 52-48 March 17 vote, the Senate stripped $14 billion in Medicaid cuts from its budget resolution. Both the Senate and House completed their versions of the budget on the 17th.

The Senate removed "reconciliation instructions" that would have directed the Senate Finance Committee to find $15 billion over five years in entitlement cuts; $14 billion of the total was expected to come from Medicaid. Seven Republicans and one independent joined all 44 Democrats in approving an amendment by Sens. Gordon Smith (R-OR) and Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), which would instead create a commission to recommend Medicaid reforms next year.

Smith-Bingaman reduces the total entitlement savings in the Senate budget resolution to $17 billion. The House resolution contains entitlement savings of $69 billion. Of the House total, $20 billion is contained in reconciliation instructions to the Energy and Commerce Committee, with at least $15 billion, and probably closer to the entire $20 billion, expected to come out of Medicaid.
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