Copyright 2000 The National Journal, Inc.
The National Journal
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October 14, 2000
SECTION: MEDICARE; Pg. 3270; Vol. 32, No. 42
LENGTH: 188 words
HEADLINE:
Republicans Agree on Medicare 'Givebacks'
BYLINE: Julie
Rovner/CongressDaily
BODY:
House and Senate Republican negotiators reached a
tentative agreement
this week on a five-year, $ 26 billion to $ 28
billion package of
"givebacks" to Medicare providers whose
reimbursements were cut by the 1997
Balanced Budget Act, but it
remained unclear exactly what shape the final
legislation would
take. Even before the package was completed, President
Clinton,
congressional Democrats, and hospital groups complained that it
would provide too much money for managed care plans in the
"Medicare+Choice" program, and would come at the expense of other
health
care providers. Managed care plans have been leaving
Medicare in recent
years, complaining that the payment system set
up by the 1997 law left them
no way to make a profit. Clinton
said studies have shown that the plans are
already paid more than
they need to provide beneficiaries with basic
Medicare benefits.
And he said Congress ought not to reward an industry
whose
lobbyists have blocked passage of a patients' bill of
rights.
Negotiations with the Administration on a final package are
expected next week.
LOAD-DATE: October 17, 2000