Former Senators Release Health Reform Proposal - 6/23/09

On June 17, the Bipartisan Policy Center, led by former Sens. Howard Baker (R-TN), George Mitchell (D-ME), Bob Dole (R-KS), and Tom Daschle (D-SD) released a comprehensive health reform proposal that the Center hopes will foster bipartisan consensus on Capitol Hill.  The budget neutral proposal, which notably does not address the controversial public plan option, is paid for in part through a one-third reduction in Medicaid and Medicare disproportionate share hospital (DSH) payments that is estimated to save $80 billion over ten years.  The proposal suggests that DSH payments should be tied to changes in uncompensated care and other public health burdens for which hospitals and other providers deliver services.