On November 13, 2013, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) issued a report entitled "Options for Reducing the Deficit: 2014 to 2023," which includes more than 100 policy options that would decrease federal spending or increase federal revenues over the next decade. The following is a listing of the CBO's health policy options, many of which have been considered previously, including the estimated 10-year savings potential:
- Impose Caps on Federal Spending for Medicaid ($105 billion to $606 billion)
- Add a "Public Plan" to the Health Insurance Exchanges ($37 billion)
- Eliminate Exchange Subsidies for People with Income Over 300 Percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines ($173 billion)
- Limit Medical Malpractice Torts ($57 billion)
- Introduce Minimum Out-of-Pocket Requirements under TRICARE ($31 billion)
- Convert Medicare to a Premium Support System ($22 billion to $275 billion)
- Change the Cost-Sharing Rules for Medicare and Restrict Medigap Insurance ($52 billion to $114 billion)
- Raise the Age of Eligibility for Medicare to 67 ($23 billion)
- Increase Premiums for Parts B and D of Medicare ($20 billion to $ 287 billion)
- Bundle Medicare's Payments to Health Care Providers ($17 billion to $47 billion)
- Require Manufacturers to Pay a Minimum Rebate on Drugs Covered Under Part D of Medicare for Low-Income Beneficiaries ($123 billion)
- Modify TRICARE Enrollment Fees and Cost Sharing for Working-Age Military Retirees ($20 billion to $71 billion)
- Reduce or Constrain Funding for the National Institutes of Health ($13 billion to $28 billion)
- End Enrollment in VA Medical Care for Veterans in Priority Groups 7 and 8 ($48 billion)
- Reduce Tax Preferences for Employment-Based Health Insurance ($266 billion to $613 billion)
- Increase the Excise Tax on Cigarettes by 50 Cents per Pack ($37 billion).
This article is presented for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute legal advice.