Washington, D.C.–(ENEWSPF)–March 18, 2010. What follows is a statement by Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad (D-ND) on the Congressional Budget (CBO) estimate of the health reform effort.
“The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office delivered outstanding news today regarding Congress’ health reform effort. CBO’s new estimate shows that the reconciliation “fixer” bill will add significant additional deficit reduction to the comprehensive Senate-passed bill. When taken together, the two measures will reduce the deficit by $138 billion over the first ten years and by about $1.3 trillion over the second ten years.”
“The combined package meets every key benchmark for health reform we set out to achieve. It reduces both short and long-term deficits. It expands coverage to millions of Americans. It contains long-overdue insurance market reforms, such as prohibiting insurers from denying or rescinding coverage based on pre-existing conditions. And it contains a critical delivery system reform that reward quality instead of quantity of care, and have the potential to provide significant long-term health savings.”
“This health reform effort will not solve all of our nation’s fiscal problems. But it represents an important step in the right direction. It deserves our support.”
Source: budget.senate.gov
