May 27, 2008
Senate Votes to Block Medicaid Changes
The U.S. Senate voted Thursday, May 22 to postpone new rules formulated by the Bush Administration that would have cut $13 billion over the next five years from Medicaid payments to the states. The bill passed by a 75-22 voice vote, enough to override a promised veto. A majority of Republicans broke ranks to vote for the measure, which was included in the Iraq and Afghanistan war spending bill. The changes in the rules would have taken effect this year, but the moratorium pushes them back into April 2009, when a new administration would be in the White House. Meanwhile, on May 21, the House had shown its support for a moratorium by passing stand-alone legislation (H.R. 5613) with similar provisions by a veto-proof majority, as well as including the provisions in its war-spending bill. Differences between the Senate and House versions of the war bill could delay final passage for months. The administration said the new rules would eliminate payments it doesn’t think appropriate for Medicaid, but the changes are opposed by governors of all 50 states, which would have to pick up the financial burden. The Houses’ stand-alone legislation may be found at http://thomas.loc.gov. Enter H.R. 5613 under Bill Search.
