Senate Names Medicare Conferees;
Senate Democrats Outline Concerns
July 11, 2003 - With Congress's return from the Fourth
of July recess, the Senate named its conferees to the Medicare
prescription drug legislation. At the same time, Senate Democrats
have begun to stake out their position that the final conference
agreement not deviate from key aspects of the Senate-passed
proposal.
On July 7, the following Senate conferees were named: Sens.
Charles Grassley (R-Iowa); Orrin Hatch ( R-Utah); Don Nickles
(R-Okla.); Bill Frist (R-Tenn.); Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.); Max Baucus
(D-Mont.); Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.); Tom Daschle (D-S.D.);
and John Breaux (D-La.). The House has yet to name its conferees,
but may do so by week's end. House Ways and Means Committee
Chairman Bill Thomas (R-Calif.) is expected to chair the conference.
The timing and length of the conference is uncertain. Immediately
after the Senate and House passed their versions of the Medicare
prescription drug and reform bills, President Bush urged Congress
to complete the Medicare conference and send it to him for
his signature by August. However, Senate Majority Leader Bill
Frist has said that the conference could go into the fall.
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Grassley reportedly will
urge that the conference be completed by the end of September
before the gearing up of the presidential campaigns.
Speaking at a July 9 health policy conference Senate Finance
Committee Ranking Minority Member Baucus identified the following
issues that will need to be resolved in conference: a "fallback"
provision; premium support; medical savings accounts; low-income
provisions; means testing; and provisions to prevent employer
plans from dropping coverage for retirees.
A Senate Democrats letter to President Bush addressing some
of the above issues is currently being circulated for signatures.
The letter indicates that the signors will strongly oppose
a final bill that would "do more harm than good to seniors,
to beneficiaries with disabilities, and to Medicare itself."
Information:
Lynne Davis Boyle, Assistant Vice President
AAMC Office of Governmental Relations
ldavisboyle@aamc.org
(202) 828-0526
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