Max Baucus: “It seems absurd that we have to wait until 2006 before this program goes into effect. I very much understand the concern…”

“It seems absurd that we have to wait until 2006 before this program goes into effect. I very much understand the concern of the Senator. Let me say this to all of us who are concerned. Before the conference report comes back, I am going to do my level best by pushing the CBO and CMS, asking a lot of tough questions of these agencies, to see if there is some way we can get this put together earlier. It is my hope we could bring back a conference report that has an earlier date, significantly earlier date. My guess is the private sector could get this done pretty quickly. It would not take a full 2 years to get it done. I just pledge to my colleagues, this is one Senator who is going to do his level best to try to get an earlier date. The current date just doesn't make sense. We need to ask some tough questions and get some answers.”