Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) on Monday announced plans to introduce legislation that will provide funding for states to develop universal health care pilot programs, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. Feingold's proposed $32 billion legislation would provide funding for a few selected states to design their own universal health care pilot plans (Schmid, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 7/24). A federal task force would select which state proposals to fund and would oversee their implementation. Two or three states could participate in the plan, or states could apply in groups, Feingold said. The bill calls for five-year plans, with an option for another five years. States would have to contribute 25% in matching funds to the program, while the federal government would contribute about 75% of the cost. Feingold proposes funding the federal portion of the program by increasing the rebate that drug manufacturers pay to Medicaid, which would yield an estimated $8.3 billion over 10 years; increasing airline passenger security fees from $2.50 to $5 for nonstop travelers, which would bring in additional $15.5 billion over 10 years; and extending fees for customs and borders expected to expire in 2014 by two years, for an additional $6.25 billion. The ultimate goal of the plan is to produce a national guarantee of universal health care in the future, Feingold said. He plans to introduce the legislation by early next week, although he acknowledges it likely will not pass this year (Frommer, AP/ St. Paul Pioneer Press, 7/25). "The consensus is emerging that there ought to be flexibility from state to state," Feingold said, adding, "Maybe [the pilot programs] will all work, maybe none will work. But that doesn't mean everyone has to do it identically" (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 7/24).