Medicare Conferees Far from a Finale

September 8, 2003
A simmering dispute between Senate Finance Committee Chair Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) and House Ways and Means Committee Chair Bill Thomas (R-Calif.) is making life uncomfortable for the ten Republican conferees trying to reconcile differing Senate and House legislation to provide a Medicare prescription drug benefit.

Grassley has said that aides to Thomas, who as head of the conference committee sets the conference committee's agenda, told Senate staffers they are not permitted to discuss provisions in both Medicare bills that would allocate at least $25 billion to increase payments to rural Medicare providers.

After the committee's last meeting on Thursday, Sept. 5, a tight-lipped Grassley said only that "progress is made at every meeting." House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee Chair Michael Bilirakis (R-Fla.) said Republicans attending the meeting discussed "very fundamental issues," adding that "there was a little bit of yelling."

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) says he is "absolutely confident" Congress will pass a Medicare bill before the end of the current session. Frist said that several "stumbles" in the process to reach an agreement should be expected because the legislation is complex.

However, not everyone shares that view. Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) said, "There is significant doubt that this legislation has the momentum to make it to the finish line."

The full conference committee is scheduled to meet this week to vote on several tentative agreements developed by staffers over the August recess, including a drug discount card and Medicare coverage for preventive care services.