After months of deliberations a bipartisan compromise proposal was approved at 1:45 AM this morning to address the upcoming debt-ceiling deadline. The deficit reduction package, scheduled to be voted on today, will reduce the national deficit, raise the debt limit and avoid default. Highlights of the agreement include extending the debt limit to 2013, a nearly $1 trillion down payment on deficit reduction, an expedited process for balanced deficit reduction in a longer term process for an additional $1.5 trillion in savings through tax and entitlement reform and an enforcement mechanism that will compel spending cuts (50% defense/50% non-defense).

While Medicaid cuts are excluded in the proposal, the door is still open for cuts to Medicare in Stage Two of the proposal when the 12-member, bipartisan panel looks for $1.5 trillion in cuts. Once announced, NPAF will work with members of the panel to ensure that Medicare patients' access to care is kept as the top priority in their deliberations. We will monitor the panel's recommendations and pursue every opportunity to emphasize that cuts to providers, simply means cuts to patients.

Below are links to official documents related to the proposed debt deal for your review. Please contact us at action@npaf.org if you have any questions.

• White House Fact Sheet
• Speaker Boehner's PowerPoint
• Republican Leader McConnell Statement
• Senate Democratic Policy Fact Sheet