CQ’s Carey Discusses SCHIP, Possible Medicare Advantage Cuts, Genetic Anti-Discrimination Bill

Mary Agnes Carey, associate editor of CQ HealthBeat, examines Senate approval of a cigarette tax increase to expand SCHIP; discussions about possible Medicare Advantage plan cuts to help fund SCHIP and other health programs; and House action on genetic anti-discrimination legislation in this week's "Health on the Hill from kaisernetwork.org and CQ." According to Carey, the Senate voted 59-40 to approve a fiscal year 2008 budget resolution that would allow a federal cigarette tax increase of up to 61 cents per pack to fund SCHIP expansion. However, the amendment is nonbinding. In addition, the House last week passed a FY 2007 supplemental spending bill that includes funds to cover SCHIP shortfalls this year, and the Senate this week is expected to vote on its supplemental spending bill, which also includes SCHIP funding, Carey says. President Bush likely will veto the House bill because it sets a timetable for troop withdrawal from Iraq, according to Carey. Carey also says that Medicare Advantage is being targeted for cuts because recent reports have said it receives higher reimbursement than the Medicare fee-for-service program. Proponents of the current MA payment system say that it has been working well for beneficiaries and provides them with more generous coverage that saves them money; however, opponents say if MA reimbursement were the same as the traditional fee-for-service program, Medicare could save billions of dollars, according to Carey. Lastly, Carey discusses House subcommittees' approval of legislation that would ban discrimination against U.S. residents based on the results of genetic tests. Before the bill goes to the House floor, differences in the subcommittee bills will have to be resolved, Carey says. Bush supports the bill, but some Republicans and business groups say the language is too broad and has potential for future class-action lawsuits, according to Carey (Carey, "Health on the Hill from kaisernetwork.org and CQ," 3/26).
The complete audio version of "Health on the Hill," transcript and resources for further research are available online at kaisernetwork.org.