CQ's Carey Addresses Avian Flu Funding, Budget

Main Category: Bird Flu / Avian Flu
Also Included In: Flu / Cold / SARS
Article Date: 06 Dec 2005 - 0:00 PDT

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Mary Agnes Carey, associate editor of CQ HealthBeat, examines funding to prepare for a flu pandemic and congressional action on the budget in this week's "Health on the Hill from kaisernetwork.org and CQ." Carey notes that Congress thus far has not been able to agree on funding for avian flu preparation and treatment, and there are disputes over funding levels and whether to give vaccine makers liability protection. Carey also discusses health provisions in the House and Senate budget reconciliation measures, noting that there likely will be much discussion over potential changes to Medicaid, including the transfer of assets, increases in cost sharing and how pharmacies are reimbursed. Further, lawmakers are expected to discuss the possibility of eliminating the Medicare stabilization fund, created in the 2003 Medicare law to encourage health insurers to participate in the program. Finally, Carey reviews action by the House to reject the fiscal year 2006 Labor-HHS appropriations bill. She says a stop-gap spending measure for Labor-HHS agencies expires Dec. 17, and House Appropriations Committee Chair Jerry Lewis (R-Calif.) has suggested passing a long-term continuing resolution, while Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) has said that lawmakers' differences over the bill can be resolved (Carey, "Health on the Hill from kaisernetwork.org and CQ," 12/5).

The complete audio version of "Health on the Hill," transcript and resources for further research are available online.

"Reprinted with permission from http://www.kaisernetwork.org. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at http://www.kaisernetwork.org/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation . © 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.

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