[NYAPRS Enews] Leavitt Suggests Compromise On Medicaid Bill, Senate Support Unclear

[Matt Canuteson]

HHS Secretary Leavitt Suggests Compromise On Medicaid Bill, Senate
Support Unclear

Medical News Today May 1, 2008

 

HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt on Tuesday suggested that the Bush
administration is willing to reach a compromise on a bill (HR 5613) that
would prevent seven new Medicaid regulations from taking effect until
April 1, 2009, CongressDaily reports. The measure was approved last week
in the House and could come up for a floor vote in the Senate at any
time (Johnson, CongressDaily, 4/29). Leavitt said that if

Congress allows five of the rules to go into effect, the administration
would be willing to postpone implementation of the other two rules --
one limits Medicaid reimbursement to public hospitals and the other
reduces federal Medicaid reimbursement for residents and interns at
teaching hospitals (Wayne, CQ Today, 4/29).

The five rule changes the administration now wants implemented aim to
restrict services covered by some states' case management plans; narrow
federal Medicaid reimbursement eligibility for outpatient hospital
services; bar federal reimbursement for transportation to school and
school-based care for Medicaid-eligible children; restrict the types of
"rehabilitative" services covered by federal funding; and limit taxes
some states charge health providers. Critics have said the regulations
could reduce health care coverage for pregnant women, low-income
children, nursing home residents and other groups (Daily Women's Health
Policy Report, 4/25).

"We're trying to put together a package where the five would remain"
while the administration and Congress negotiate on the other two rules,
Leavitt said, adding that if Congress cannot "find a solution" by
August, the two rules would be postponed until March 2009. 

Leavitt on Tuesday also reiterated the administration's intent to veto
the measure if a compromise is not reached and the bill that delays all
seven rules passes in the Senate. There are "ambiguities in the law that
are being exploited" and that "need to be fixed," Leavitt said, adding
that the administration is not "against legitimate use of these tools."
Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) said he thinks that the
administration's "proposal is reasonable" and that he hopes "it will
lead the Congress to negotiate" on the measure (CongressDaily, 4/29).

Senate Support Unclear

Senate Republicans on Tuesday slowed action on the measure, leading
Democratic leaders to consider attaching it to a supplemental war
spending bill, CQ Today reports. 

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) Tuesday evening attempted to
pass the bill by voice vote, but Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) objected,
saying the rules "will make a difference" in addressing Medicaid fraud
and abuse. Reid will need to file a cloture petition before bringing the
measure up for a vote again, according to CQ Today. 

Democratic aides said the party leaders might attempt to add the bill to
another measure to avoid the cloture petition, although House Speaker
Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has made "no final decisions," according to
Pelosi spokesperson Nadeam Elshami. An aide to Senate Finance Committee
Chair Max Baucus (D-Mont.) said Baucus "will work to find another way
and the next appropriate vehicle" to pass the measure.

It is unclear how many Senate Republicans would support the Bush
administration's efforts to prevent the legislation from passing,
according to CQ Today. Two letters have circulated among Senate
Republicans that outline the party's concerns with the measure and the
administration's offer to compromise, but it is unclear how many
Republican senators have signed either letter. One of the letters --
dated April 23 and addressed to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell
(R-Ky.) -- says that passing the measure would be "irresponsible" and
"would further undermine the fiscal integrity of the Medicaid program"
(CQ Today, 4/29). 

Reprinted with kind permission from http://www.nationalpartnership.org.
You can view the entire Daily Women's Health Policy Report, search the
archives, or sign up for email delivery here. The Daily Women's Health
Policy Report is a free service of the National Partnership for Women &
Families, published by The Advisory Board Company.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/105908.php

 

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