October 05,1999

Roth, Moynihan Meet with President on Medicare


WASHINGTON - Senate Finance Committee Chairman William V. Roth, Jr. (R-DE) and ranking Democrat Daniel Patrick Moynihan (D-NY) met this morning with President Clinton to discuss the outlook for Medicare legislation. Senators Roth and Moynihan informed the President of their intention to continue working toward a consensus within the Committee and with the President on legislation to reform Medicare over the long-term, including adding a prescription drug benefit, while protecting the solvency of the Medicare trust fund.

Senators Roth and Moynihan also discussed with the President the need to act immediately, before the end of the first session of this Congress, to restore some of the Medicare funding cuts under the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (BBA).

In response to inquiries from Chairman Roth and Senator Moynihan regarding possible administrative adjustments to the BBA, the President agreed to provide a quick answer so that the Committee could fashion legislation that takes into account any administrative changes.

President Clinton recommended, as an offset to part of the costs in the BBA package, that the package include a proposal sent to Congress in June to modernize the fee-for-service program. Senators Roth and Moynihan agreed to consider the President's recommendation.