Michael Burgess: “when you hear Governors talk about Medicaid, the one word they use, regardless of party or what region of the country…”

“when you hear Governors talk about Medicaid, the one word they use, regardless of party or what region of the country they represent, the one word they use over and over again is ``unsustainable.'' In 2005, the Medicaid program has grown to become a program that costs Federal and State governments $330 billion a year and covers 50 million beneficiaries. States grapple with the cost of the program, providers struggle to participate in Medicaid, and beneficiaries ask whether it is meeting their needs. Mr. Speaker, if we were creating this program today, I doubt the current Medicaid system is one that any one of us would visualize. We should not shy away from reviewing this program to ensure that it is meeting its stated mandate: to provide quality care for the disabled, poor, elderly, and the frail. Is the program meeting this mandate? In terms of sheer magnitude, the Medicaid program has become unworkable, and growth is a constant. The program cannot continue to grow at its current rate and meet the needs of those that its covers. Oftentimes health care policy is a study in crisis management. We have come to a point with Medicaid that we will be pushed to make trade-offs. We must ensure that Medicaid serves as a true safety net, and we must have the institutional courage to review this program and make changes where necessary prior to its ultimate collapse from its own weight. ____________________”