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Durbin Decries Bush Administration Decision to Reject Bipartisanship Cooperation Naming Medicaid Commission

Date: May 23, 2005
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Unemployed and Low-Income Entitlements and the Safety Net Health Insurance


DURBIN DECRIES BUSH ADMINISTRATION DECISION TO REJECT BIPARTISANSHIP COOPERATION IN NAMING MEDICAID COMMISSION

COMMISSION CHARTER PUBLISHED TODAY IN FEDERAL REGISTER

Saying that the challenges facing Medicaid must be addressed by both political parties, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today decried the Bush Administration's decision to reject Congressional calls for bipartisanship and cooperation. Despite a request by Democratic and Republican Senators to Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt, the charter establishing the commission was published today in the Federal Register. Under the charter, Secretary Leavitt has sole authority to appoint all 15 voting members of the commission.

"Medicaid is in need of independent and bipartisan review to ensure the long-term viability of this critical health care program, and the American people deserve more from the Bush Administration than a stacked commission that will lock out important voices in this debate," Durbin said. "Medicaid is the health-care safety net for millions of children living in poverty, seniors and persons with disabilities and they should have a seat at the table where decisions will be made about their future."

The review commission, called for by Congress, would make recommendations on the future of Medicaid, including eligibility and benefit changes, and detail ways $10 billion can be cut from the program without compromising its ability to provide critical health care services. Earlier this month, Durbin joined Democratic and Republican Senators in sending a letter to Secretary Leavitt urging him to "…charge the National Academy of Sciences' Institute of Medicine (IOM) with the responsibility to conduct a thorough review of the Medicaid program and to provide the Administration and Congress with long-range recommendations on how to improve coverage and access to care, quality, and cost-effectiveness of services for low-income and vulnerable populations in Medicaid."

They added, "In assembling both panels, the IOM should include broad representation from program stakeholders. Membership could include current or former governors, current or former state legislators, current or former county elected officials, providers or provider organizations, advocates or advocacy organizations, insurers or insurer organizations, and policy experts."

http://durbin.senate.gov/record.cfm?id=238238&&

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