For Immediate Release
August 25, 2009

Baucus Says Budget Reports Underscores Critical Need For Health Care Reform

Budget reports project unsustainable growth in health care spending

Washington, DC – Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) said today that new reports from the Congressional Budget Office and the White House Office of Management and Budget highlight the significant need to pass health care reform. Baucus has said that health reform legislation must control the skyrocketing health care costs that threaten the sustainability of federal programs like Medicare and Medicaid and increasing Federal budget deficits.

“Today’s budget reports serve as a clear illustration that health care spending is out of control and threatens the health care programs families rely on, such as Medicare and Medicaid,” said Baucus. “We simply can’t afford these skyrocketing health care costs, and that’s a key reason why health care reform is so important. The bipartisan health care legislation we are drafting in the Finance Committee will slow these growing health care costs by improving quality and making our system more efficient. Health care reform will spend our health care dollars more wisely to help ensure our children and our grandchildren can rely on these vital health programs.”

The reports released today are available online at www.cbo.gov and www.omb.gov.

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