News Release

STATEMENT BY MIKE LEAVITT
Secretary of Health and Human Services
Regarding Budget Conference Agreement

I congratulate the Congress on passing a proposal that puts us on the path toward stabilizing and strengthening Medicaid so it continues to serve our most vulnerable citizens. We all agree - from Washington to statehouses across America - that Medicaid needs to be improved and modernized. This budget resolution takes steps to achieve that goal. I look forward to working on the formation of a fair, balanced, and open commission to address the challenges facing Medicaid and to produce reforms the Administration, Congress and governors can embrace. I urge Congress to continue pursuing bipartisan Medicaid reform. The time to act on Medicaid is now.