"Health on the Hill from kaisernetwork.org and CQ" 4/24/2003
Special Report: Medicare Reform Update
Kaisernetwork.org and Congressional Quarterly's Rebecca Adams discusses prospects for
Medicare legislation this year with Reps. Jim McCrery, R-La., and Benjamin Cardin, D-Md.
Interviews with Lawmakers
Introduction
As Congress returns from its spring recess, House Republicans plan to open
the controversial debate over legislation to add a prescription drug benefit
to Medicare. Republicans expect to move legislation through the House in the
next couple of months. GOP leaders had hoped to hold a floor vote on a bill
by Memorial Day, but many lawmakers expect that timetable to slip, as it did
when the House considered the issue before in 2000 and in 2002.
However, the committees of jurisdiction will be busy shaping the
bill during the next few weeks. The House Energy and Commerce Committee and
the House Ways and Means Committee are both expected to produce legislation
in May.
Reps. Jim McCrery, R-La., and Benjamin Cardin, D-Md., discuss these
developments and the prospects for Medicare legislation this year.
McCrery downplays expectations for a bill this year, saying that it
will be difficult to move a bill through the Senate. But he expects a
comprehensive bill that would inject more competition into Medicare to move
through the House in June or early July. The Republican says that it isn't
necessary to offer the same type of drug coverage to seniors in
fee-for-service Medicare and those in private plans.
Cardin challenges that approach. He says that all seniors should get
the same drug benefits, no matter what type of coverage they choose. He says
that if seniors can only get broad drug coverage through private plans, then
many seniors would be left without adequate coverage because private
insurers may not participate in every part of the nation.
Interviews with Lawmakers
( audio
)
Member, House Ways & Means Committee, Subcommittee on Health
( audio
)
Member, House Ways & Means Committee, Subcommittee on Human Resources
Sign up for email alerts and stay informed about upcoming HealthCasts, and the latest health policy issues, news, and events.
Change Your Video Preferences
