Dear Messrs Chairmen:
The House and Senate Republican leadership has asked us to come together around a package of $26 billion in spending adjustments for the Medicare, Medicaid and State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). The bipartisan package prepared in the Senate Finance Committee is a comprehensive package with provisions relating to all three major programs under discussion. This package strikes a fair balance by reducing beneficiary costs and improving prevention benefits; by improving payments for health care services of Medicare and Medicaid providers; and by addressing the needs of lower-income individuals and children. Our preliminary estimates from the Congressional Budget Office scored this package at $3 billion in the first year, and $28.1 billion over 5 years.
In an effort to reach timely agreement and meet the Leadership's request, I have made modest adjustments to this package to reach $26 billion in spending over 5 years (subject, of course, to final CBO scoring). I am submitting it to you as an offer that the House and Senate could reach agreement upon now. Enclosed is a detailed description of the provisions.
Sincerely,
William V. Roth, Jr.
Chairman
Enclosure
cc: The Honorable J. Dennis Hastert The Honorable Trent Lott The Honorable Don Nickles The Honorable Richard Armey The Honorable Bill Archer
Source: Ranking Member’s News
