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For Immediate Release: December 1, 1998
Contact: Rusty Jabour

Meeting Agenda
Wednesday, December 2, 1998 / 1:30 - 5:00 p.m.
Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room 106
Washington, D.C.

1:30 p.m. The Impacts of Various Medicare Reforms

The Commissioners will discuss the impacts of various hypothetical changes to the Medicare program. Commission staff was asked to analyze the impacts of hypothetical changes that have been discussed by members at prior Commission and task force meetings. The Commissioners will discuss the following variables and their impacts on Medicare costs, eligibility, benefits, management and administration, and financing:

*Variable A: Modernize Cost Sharing

A(1) Combine Part A and Part B deductibles

A(2) Eliminate the limit on hospital day coverage

A(3) Establish a hospital coinsurance

A(4) Establish Medicare stop-loss (offer catastrophic protection)

*Variable B: Reform Medigap

*Variable C: Raise Eligibility Age

*Variable D: Graduate Medical Education (GME) and Disproportionate
                       Share Hospital (DSH) Changes

*Variable E: Prescription Drug Coverage

*Variable F: Introduce Premium Support

*Summary Grid 1

5:00 p.m. Adjourn