Proposed Task Force Would Look Into Solutions For Looming Insolvency Of Entitlement Programs

Sens. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) and Judd Gregg (R-N.H.) on Monday held a panel discussion at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, where they proposed creating a new bipartisan task force to address the growing costs of large entitlement programs, CQ HealthBeat reports. The task force, which would comprise members of Congress and Bush administration officials, would draft legislation focused on the rising costs of the programs and on major tax issues.

Conrad also introduced several potential policies to increase the efficiency of Medicare and Medicaid. He said that comparative effectiveness research would help determine why different regions of the U.S. achieve different results on identical medical procedures and that coordinated care for chronically ill patients would reduce unnecessary prescriptions and treatments.

Neither Conrad nor Gregg detailed potential revenue sources to reduce entitlement spending. Gregg said, "We are not representing ideas," adding, "Will we be expanding revenue? I suppose that's why we put it all on the table. I suspect there will be a revenue component." Conrad said, "As soon as you get into specifics, you get opposition. We really have to get this set up first."

Panelist Kimberly Morgan, assistant professor of political science and international affairs at George Washington University, said Conrad's policies would not do enough to significantly address spending for either program. NPR correspondent Julie Rovner, another panelist, noted past failures of commissions to implement meaningful change to Medicare and Medicaid (McCarthy, CQ HealthBeat, 5/14).


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