House Letter Asks For Removal
of Budget Provisions That Would Cut Medicaid Funding
April 23, 2004 - Concerned that reconciliation instructions
in the FY 2005 Budget Resolution would potentially cut Medicaid
funding by $2.2 billion, 27 House Republicans signed an April
20 letter (PDF, 3 pages - 347
KB) urging House Budget Committee Chairman Jim Nussle
(R-Iowa) to remove the provisions from the conference agreement.
The reconciliation instructions direct the Energy and Commerce
Committee to reduce spending by $2.2 billion.
Coordinated by Reps. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) and Sherwood Boehlert
(R-N.Y.), the letter expresses concern that the reconciliation
instructions "could result in a cut to Medicaid of almost
double the Medicaid disproportionate share hospital (DSH)
relief that was provided in the Medicare Modernization Act."
The letter states that "[w]e agree that more must be done
to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse in government programs"
and that the cosigners would "pledge to work with Chairman
[Joe] Barton [R-Texas] and the … Committee to improve the
Medicaid program."
The letter concludes, "any savings in the Medicaid program
should be a result of comprehensive reform, not piecemeal
efforts derived from a need to balance the budget." Co-signers
include Reps. Rob Simmons (R-Conn.), Robin Hayes (R-N.C.),
Randy Cunningham (R-Calif), John McHugh (R-N.Y.), Jim Leach
(R-Iowa), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Peter King (R-N.Y.),
Jim Gerlach (R-Pa.), Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), Donald Manzullo
(R-Ill.), Greg Walden (R-Ore.), Jim Ramstad (R-Minn.), George
Radanovich (R-Calif.), Mary Bono (R-Calif.), Ralph Hall (R-Texas),
Todd Platts (R-Pa.), George Nethercutt (R-Wash.), Christopher
Smith (R-N.J.), Ron Paul (R-Texas), Tim Johnson (R-Ill.),
Christopher Cox (R-Calif.), Max Burns (R-Ga.), Jon Porter
(R-Nev.), Jeff Miller (R-Fla.), and Jo Ann Emerson (R-Mo.).
Schedules prevented Rep. Randy Forbes (R-Va.) from signing
the Burr/Boehlert letter, prompting him to send a similar
letter on April 21.
Information:
Christiane Mitchell, Senior Legislative Analyst
AAMC Government Relations
cmitchell@aamc.org
(202) 828-0526
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