Roth Proposes $26 Billion Medicare Spending Package to House
Seeks Quick House-Senate Agreement
Washington -- Senate Finance Committee Chairman William V. Roth, Jr. (R-DE) today made an offer of $26 billion in spending adjustments for the Medicare, Medicaid and State Children's Health Insurance Program to the House.
"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)... 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," Roth stated in a letter.
The text of the letter to Congressmen Thomas J. Bliley and William M. Thomas follows.
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October 5, 2000
The Honorable Thomas J. Bliley
United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
The Honorable William M. Thomas
United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
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
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