BREAKING NEWS!
The House is voting on its proposed health care reform bill Sunday afternoon. The NCMS is contacting each member of the North Carolina Congressional Delegation to discuss key elements in the current legislation. Please be looking for a Special Bulletin detailing the latest developments in this ongoing story.
Yesterday afternoon, the U.S. House of Representatives released legislative language for the reconciliation bill that makes refinements to the Senate’s health reform bill, H.R. 3590. Key provisions include:
- Medicaid payment rates for primary care physicians to equal 100 percent of Medicare payment rates in 2013 and 2014. Provides 100 percent federal funding for the increased costs to states.
- Increased federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) paid to states for individuals newly enrolled in Medicaid as a result of the expansion of eligibility to 133% FPL (100 percent for 2014-2016, 95 percent in 2017, 94 percent in 2018, 93 percent in 2019, and 90 percent for 2020 and later years), repeal of the special FMAP for Nebraska.
- Government payments to Medicare Advantage would be cut $132 billion over 10 years, a steeper cut than the $110 billion cut contained in the Senate bill.
- Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB) would remain in the reconciliation bill, but the expected Medicare savings would be about half of the Senate’s projected savings of $23 billion, because the House bill would impose greater cuts in Medicare Advantage plans.
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) announced on the floor yesterday that debate will not begin until after members have had 72 hours to review the new provisions, which sets the time for the first potential floor votes to Sunday at 2:00 pm.
The Congressional Budget Office has issued a letter determining that these changes will bring the Senate health reform plan to a cost of $940 billion over 10 years.
