106TH CONGRESS: Dems. Will Push To Expand Medicaid, Medicare
Speaking yesterday at a health care forum at the National Press Club, a senior Democratic aide said his party will push legislation that would expand health care access for the poor, elderly and unemployed, CongressDaily reports. In addition to the Democrats' "Patients' Bill of Rights," Andie King, aide to House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt (D-MO), said Democrats hope to pass bills that would enroll more children in Medicaid, allow those who retire before age 65 to buy into Medicare and extend COBRA coverge for workers who lose their jobs. John McManus, an aide to Rep. Bill Thomas (R-CA) said the costs of expanding COBRA beyond its current 18-month limit would be too great a "burden on employers for employees who left their companies long ago" (Morrissey, CongressDaily, 12/15).
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