House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.), the top Republican leader in deficit-reduction talks led by Vice President Joe Biden, has exited from negotiations after Democrats demanded tax increases as part of the deficit-reduction plan, according to a news report by The Hill.
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) expressed disappointment at Mr. Cantor's departure, adding that any Medicare cuts would have to balanced by revenue increases. Conservative lawmakers have staunchly pushed for aggressive cuts to the Medicare program as a means for closing the country's deficit.
Meanwhile, liberals are continuing to criticize GOP budget proposals. Democrats on the Committee on Energy and Commerce pointed to its own semiannual report on recent committee activity to show other lawmakers the negative effect the GOP's proposed budget would have on Medicare and Medicaid.
The American Hospital Association has also expressed concern over specific proposals for the deficit-reduction package. In a written statement to the Senate Finance Committee, AHA pointed out hospitals have already agreed to $155 billion in payment reductions and any more cuts to Medicare and Medicaid will not only hurt hospitals but patients as well.
One of the proposals AHA has spoken out against is The Commitment to American Prosperity Act, which AHA said would lead to "dramatic reductions in fees for physician services" and could jeopardize hospital profitability. As an alternative to the proposals, AHA suggested other Medicare alternatives, such as junk food taxes and increased Medicare beneficiary cost-sharing.
Read the news report about talks on the deficit-reduction plan.
Related Articles on Deficit Reduction:
New Medicare Actuary Data Used to Push for Medicare Overhaul, Defend Healthcare Reform
Legislators Consider Sweeping Medicare Changes As Part of Deficit Package
Deficit Panel's Proposals on Fee-Fix, Healthcare Cuts Spawn New Bill
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) expressed disappointment at Mr. Cantor's departure, adding that any Medicare cuts would have to balanced by revenue increases. Conservative lawmakers have staunchly pushed for aggressive cuts to the Medicare program as a means for closing the country's deficit.
Meanwhile, liberals are continuing to criticize GOP budget proposals. Democrats on the Committee on Energy and Commerce pointed to its own semiannual report on recent committee activity to show other lawmakers the negative effect the GOP's proposed budget would have on Medicare and Medicaid.
The American Hospital Association has also expressed concern over specific proposals for the deficit-reduction package. In a written statement to the Senate Finance Committee, AHA pointed out hospitals have already agreed to $155 billion in payment reductions and any more cuts to Medicare and Medicaid will not only hurt hospitals but patients as well.
One of the proposals AHA has spoken out against is The Commitment to American Prosperity Act, which AHA said would lead to "dramatic reductions in fees for physician services" and could jeopardize hospital profitability. As an alternative to the proposals, AHA suggested other Medicare alternatives, such as junk food taxes and increased Medicare beneficiary cost-sharing.
Read the news report about talks on the deficit-reduction plan.
Related Articles on Deficit Reduction:
New Medicare Actuary Data Used to Push for Medicare Overhaul, Defend Healthcare Reform
Legislators Consider Sweeping Medicare Changes As Part of Deficit Package
Deficit Panel's Proposals on Fee-Fix, Healthcare Cuts Spawn New Bill