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National Conference of State Legislatures
^{The Forum for America's Ideas}

April 26, 2005 The Honorable Jim Nussle Chairman, Committee on the Budget U.S. House of Representatives 309 Cannon House Office Building Washington, D.C.  20515

John Adams Hurson Chairman, Health & Government Operations Committee Maryland House of Delegates President, NCSL James E. Greenwalt Director, Senate Information Systems and Administrative Services Minnesota Staff Chair, NCSL William T. Pound Executive Director

Dear Chairman Nussle:

Later today, a motion to instruct House conferees for the FY 2006 budget resolution to substitute proposes reductions in growth in the Medicaid program with the establishment of a bipartisan commission on Medicaid.  We urge you to support this motion.

A bipartisan effort to thoroughly review the Medicaid program and propose changes that will bring the program into the 21^st century in a way that preserves the integrity of the program and  continues its mission to provide a safety net to low-income, disabled and elderly people.

Medicaid cannot continue being the Cinderella of health care programs.  Playing the lowly stepchild to Medicare, to private sector employers and to the non-existent long term care system.  We believe the bipartisan commission on Medicaid provides an opportunity for Medicaid to get the attention it deserves.  Even Cinderella got a trip to the ball, Medicaid deserves no less.

We must as a nation make tough decisions about what we want to do about health care and long term care.  How are we going to provide services to the uninsured, the uninsurable, the elderly and the disabled?  What role should Medicaid play?  These are not subjects easily dealt with during budget discussions.  This is a health policy discussion with very serious implications for state and federal budgets.  We believe a bipartisan commission would make an important contribution to this effort and urge you to support its establishment.

 

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

John A. Hurson
Maryland House of Delegates
President, NCSL

cc:  Members, U.S. House of Representatives