Tina Smith: “first, let me thank the twenty-or-so organizations that have offered their support for our bill which creates a Medicaid…”

“first, let me thank the twenty-or-so organizations that have offered their support for our bill which creates a Medicaid Commission. The importance of this bill, I believe, is demonstrated by the outpouring of support expressed by such a diverse group of people representing state and local elected officials, providers and advocates. It is truly impressive. With the debate growing over the President's budget proposal for the Medicaid program, Senator Bingaman and I are joining together with many of our colleagues to introduce this bill that calls for the creation of a Medicaid Commission. For too long Medicaid has gone unnoticed by policy makers. Over the past few decades Congress has spent a great deal of time and effort modernizing the Medicare program, developing ideas to fund Social Security, reforming our intelligence gathering apparatus, and enacting legislation that stimulates the economy. Yet, through it all Medicaid has gone unnoticed, even though it recently became the nation's largest health care program.”