National Conference of State Legislatures
The Forum for America's Ideas
October 25, 2005
The Honorable Joe Barton
Chairman
Committee on Energy and Commerce
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515
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The Honorable John D. Dingell
Ranking Member
Committee on Energy and Commerce
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515
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Steven J. Rauschenberger
Assistant Senate Republican Leader
llinois
President, NCSL
Susan Clarke Schaar
Clerk of the Senate
Virginia
Staff Chair, NCSL
William T. Pound
Executive Director |
Dear Chairman Barton and Represntative Dingell:
As both the states and the federal government struggle to balance their budgets and to support all the critical functions of government, it is important to discuss and review the state-federal Medicaid partnership. The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) looks forward to having an opportunity to discuss Medicaid reform and how the state/federal partnership can be sustained and improved and to explore ways to:
- Provide predictability in program financing and administration;
- Increase flexibility for states with respect to the eligibility process and benefit design;
- Establish a viable and flourishing long-term care system;
- Reform and improve the Medicaid prescription drug program;
- Strengthen the employer-based health insurance system;
- Increase the number of public/private initiatives to expand access to health care and to provide health care and ancillary services to support people with challenging health care needs; and
- Improve the coordination between Medicaid and Medicare to improve the effectiveness of care provided by both programs.
As you consider reconciliation legislation for FY 2006, we urge you to consider our comments on the proposals pending before you. We appreciate your efforts to ease implementation by recognizing the need for state legislatures to have an opportunity to meet and make the necessary changes to state law where appropriate. I hope you will call me or Joy Johnson Wilson, NCSL’s Health Policy Director at 202-624-8689 if you have any questions or need additional information.
Sincerely,
Dennis Byars
Nebraska State Senate
Chair, NCSL Standing Committee on Health
cc: Members, House Committee on Energy and Commerce
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