Both were referred to the Committee on Labor and Human Resources. Both measures expand Medicare coverage for preventive screening, including colorectal cancer which is currently not covered by Medicare. S. 525 would provide grants to States to develop and implement a program to help purchase health coverage for uninsured, needy children and help reduce the Federal budget deficit. S. 526 would levy an increase in excise taxes on tobacco products to fund the purposes of S. 525. Fifty percent of the amount authorized for appropriation would go health care coverage and fifty percent to deficit reduction.
States can choose whether to participate in the program.
The state must pay between 10-20 percent of total voucher costs, with wealthy states paying more. S 526 was introduced the same day and referred to the Committee on Finance. H.R. 1222 - Quality Health Care and Consumer Protection Act. The bill would be effective January 1, 1998. Such disclosure would include who is authorized to make such a determination and the criteria the plan or issuer uses to determine whether a service is experimental.