Congresswoman Heather Wilson, First Congressional District of New Mexico
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| Wilson Introduces House Bill to Form Medicaid Commission |
February 16, 2005 |
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Bipartisan Bill Endorsed by Congressional Black Caucus
Washington, DC – Congresswoman Heather Wilson today introduced a bill to create a blue ribbon Medicaid Commission.
Wilson, who announced her support for a commission last week, is a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and chaired the Committee’s Medicaid Task Force in the 108th Congress.
The legislation, already endorsed by the Congressional Black Caucus and supported by the American Hospital Association and the American Health Care Association, would create a bipartisan commission to study the Medicaid program and make recommendations for improvements. Donna Christian-Christensen (D-VI), chair of the Health Subcommittee of the Congressional Black Caucus, is an original cosponsor.
“It’s time to take a serious look at making the Medicaid program work better for the people it serves,” Wilson said.
Wilson’s House bill is the companion effort to Senate legislation introduced by Senators Gordon Smith (R-OR) and Jeff Bingaman (D-NM).
Wilson has been conferring with governors around the country about Medicaid reform and needs in their states. Wilson believes a commission can facilitate an open discussion about challenges facing the Medicaid program, options for reform and possible legislation to make the program better.
Wilson expressed concern about the budget process driving changes to Medicaid. “The health care of low-income children, pregnant women, seniors, and disabled Americans is too important to leave to the budget process. The budget process should not drive Medicaid reform.”
“Medicaid has surpassed Medicare and is now the largest public health insurance program in the United States with 50 million beneficiaries and expenditures of $300 billion,” Wilson said. “While we have spent several years improving the Medicare program, Medicaid improvement is only now beginning to emerge as the next major health care challenge.”
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