Today, CRFB released its analysis of the Medicare Trustees’ report on health care cost projections (for an analysis of the Social Security Trustees Report, see here).
Finally, the Senate got it right: we have a deficit-neutral stimulus. In fact, the bill would even slightly reduce deficits by $1.4 billion over the coming decade, according to CBO. After months of failed attempts to pass deficit-increasing stimulus packages, Senate Democrats just cleared a hurdle this morning by successfully invoking cloture on the $26.1 billion package, and final passage in the Senate is expected shortly.
Ever since health care reform passed in March, it's had a huge target on its back by those who want to repeal it. Unfortunately, the bullseye for some is on one of the Medicare cost-control provisions in the legislation that is essential to bending the health care cost curve down.
Today, CRFB released its report on the long-term effects of the recent health care reform package (be sure to check it out!), based on information provided in CBO's Long Term Outlook. CBO's analysis reflects the relatively inconclusive results of health reform's true budget impact. While those on the right and the left have argued that the reform package will either substantially increase or decrease the U.S.
Here are the highlights from this weekend’s editorials on fiscal and budget policy:
Summertime, but the Living Isn’t Easy in Congress – Today brings the first official day of summer, but Washington has already been experiencing searing days and the Capitol dome is about to blow off from the heat inside. The longest day of the year comes as lawmakers face a long road on appropriations and taxes, not to mention the never-ending “extenders” bill, which still has no end in sight.
The debate that won’t end drags on in the Senate as legislation to extend tax breaks, expanded unemployment insurance and the Medicare “doc fix” didn’t come close to getting 60 votes in a key procedural vote. The 45-52 vote failing to waive a budget point of order means the bill will undergo more changes to trim its cost.
Here are the highlights from this weekend’s editorials on fiscal and budget policy:
Here are the highlights from this weekend’s editorials on fiscal and budget policy:
Last week the Office of the Medicare Chief Actuary came out with their "Estimated Effects of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act," as amended by reconciliation. The document estimates the financial and coverage effects through FY 2019 of selected provisions of the recently passed health care reform bill. There has been some confusion regarding the Medicare Actuary's report and how it lines up next to Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates of the same bill, with many believing the Medicare Actuary projects greater costs than CBO.
