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Volume 12 Number 42 Lead Report: Medicare Medicare provisions in President Bush's fiscal 2009 budget proposal would reduce program spending about $150 billion over five years and nearly $479 billion over 10 years, according to the Congressional Budget Office. The estimate, included in a March 1 draft of the provisions compiled by CBO, differs significantly from savings estimates put forth by the White House when the budget was released Feb. 4. CBO is expected to formally release its estimate as early as March 4. The administration said the Medicare provisions would reduce program spending about $178 billion over five years. The spending reductions have been criticized by congressional Democrats, who have said they would hamper access to care for Medicare beneficiaries. The administration has defended the provisions, saying they are not cuts but would merely slow program growth from 7.2 percent annually to 5 percent annually. The CBO March 1 draft is available.
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