House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously passes legislation to delay Medicaid regulations

On a 46-0 vote, the House Energy and Commerce Committee passed legislation on April 17th that would delay implementation of seven Medicaid regulations proposed by the Bush Administration until April 1, 2009 (Source: "NCOA Opposes Medicaid Regulations", NCOA's Public Policy Update, April 18, 2008).  HHS Secretary Leavitt sent a letter outlining his opposition to this bill on April 16th.  President Bush has threatened to veto the legislation if passed.

Opponents of the seven regulations contend that they would reduce or eliminate federal funds for school-based outreach for Medicaid, types of rehabilitative services covered, targeted case management, and graduate medical education.  One of the regulations limits payment amounts for public hospitals and other public institutions.  Another of the regulations changes the definition of outpatient services in a manner that is believed to severely restrict payment for "hospital-based physician services, routine vision services, annual check-ups, and immunizations" (Source: "Administration's Medicaid regulations will weaken coveragel harm states, and strain health care system," Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, March 8, 2008).