News & Events 
Budget Proposal Would Cut Billions From Medicare and Medicaid |
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The President released his proposed $3.1 trillion budget for fiscal year 2009 on February 4th. The proposal would cut spending for Medicare and Medicaid by $196 billion over five years; the programs provide health care to millions of poor, disabled and elderly Americans. The Administration has defended the cuts stating that they are necessary in order to "stop Medicare from running out of money in little more than a decade." Members of Congress, including Senate Finance Committee Chair Max Baucus (D-MT), have already said that the Presiden't budget is dead on arrival. Additionally, many in the health care community worry that cuts to Medicare will hurt consumers. Robert M. Hayes, President of the Medicare Rights Center, said "President Bush's proposed cuts to Medicare would hurt older and disabled Americans and take a wrecking ball to many essential hospitals across the country." Not all health programs and agencies are facing cuts under Bush's proposal. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) would receive an additional $130 million for FY 2009 (a 5.7% increase over FY 2008). |
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