On Reforming Medicare
Table of Contents
Introduction
Following the close of the National Bipartisan Commission on the Future of Medicare, discussion on overall Medicare reform has begun to take a back seat to the debate over prescription drugs. But the need for Medicare reform is as great as ever.
This Backgrounder discusses the proposal for Medicare reform that was developed by a bipartisan and bicameral group of members on the Medicare Commission. The core of the commission's proposal is embodied in the Medicare Preservation and Improvement Act of 1999 (S.1895), introduced last November by Sens. John Breaux (D-La.), Bill Frist (R-Tenn.), Bob Kerrey (D-Neb.) and Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.), and cosponsored by Sens. Judd Gregg (R-N.H.) and Kit Bond (R-Mo.).
