Durbin Lays Out Potential Entitlement Reforms For Longer-Term Fiscal Cliff Solution

Durbin Lays Out Potential Entitlement Reforms For Longer-Term Fiscal Cliff Solution-insidehealthpolicy: Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) Tuesday laid out a list of Medicare and Medicaid reforms that could be considered as part of longer-term entitlement reforms expected to take place once the fiscal cliff is averted, but made clear that the public health programs should not be a part of the short-term solution. The Democratic Majority Whip touted several options -- such as extending Medicaid drug rebates to Medicare's Part D program and altering Medicaid provider taxes - that would face an uphill battle due from influential stakeholders, and also pointed to increasing Medicare means-testing, encouraging greater use of generic drugs, expanding competitive bidding, and building upon payment reforms in the Affordable Care Act as promising concepts. He stressed that he would only consider an increase in the Medicare eligibility age if there is an “assurance and guarantee” that all people would have access to affordable coverage during any gaps