Max Baucus: “I was concerned over what the effect of H.R. 1 would be on Medicare beneficiaries. I wrote a letter to HHS Secretary…”

“I was concerned over what the effect of H.R. 1 would be on Medicare beneficiaries. I wrote a letter to HHS Secretary Sebelius asking that question, what effect passage of H.R. 1 would have on Medicare beneficiaries. I got the answer a couple days ago. Frankly, it spent a couple days going through the White House, OMB, and so forth, but I received the letter last night. What does that letter say? In a recent letter, you asked specifically how Medicare and Medicaid would be affected if the House-passed version of H.R. 1 were enacted. Sections 4016 and 4018 of H.R. 1 would preclude use of Continuing Resolution (CR) funds for implementing or carrying out provisions of the Affordable Care Act. The Affordable Care Act modifies and improves almost every Medicare payment system--including the inpatient hospital prospective payment system, the outpatient hospital prospective payment system, the physician fee schedule, Medicare Advantage plan payments, and prescription drug plan payments.”