Political Quotes

“I do not think we need to worry about Blue Cross/Blue Shield withdrawing because of the imposition of government cost accounting standards, because, in effect, Members should know that Blue Cross/Blue Shield is already complying with government accounting standards in Medicare and also the Tricare program which serves our veterans. Furthermore, for my friends who indicate that a statutory moratorium would be required, the statement of administration policy has indicated that a statutory moratorium is not required, as existing law provides for an administrative process to exempt or waive classes or categories of contracts from any or all CAS requirements. So you do not need to go to the authorizing committee. My friends who indicate that government cost accounting standards are not appropriate for FEHBP health plans should know that cost accounting standards are certainly appropriate for such plans if not more so than any other Federal contractors. The cost of health care is increasing, which makes it even more important for health care plans to account for the cost increases. Hewitt Health Care Resources reported last June that HMO premiums may increase 22 percent in 2003 and Congress should not be allowing health care plans a waiver from accounting for these types of dramatic increases.”