XXXX Voted to Cut Medicaid Funding by $14 Billion. In 2005, XXXX voted against an amendment to strip out reconciliation instructions to the Finance Committee to reduce its outlays by $15 billion over five years that would likely result in a cut of $14 billion to Medicaid. It also set up a reserve fund for the creation of a 23-member Bipartisan Medicaid Commission to study Medicaid before any cuts are made. [Vote 58, 3/17/05] XXXX Voted to Force Medicaid and Medicare Cuts. In 2006, XXXX joined with Senate Republicans who unsuccessfully tried to cut $10 billion in mandatory spending from the FY07 budget. The cuts would have come from the Senate Finance Committee, which had jurisdiction over both Medicare and Medicaid. [Vote 62, 3/16/06] XXXX Voted For Budget Resolution That Cut Medicare by $6.4 Billion and Medicaid by $4.8 Billion. In December 2005, XXXX cast the deciding vote for a budget reconciliation that contained several deep program cuts. The bill cut Medicare by $6.4 billion, and increased Medicare beneficiaries’ premiums for coverage of doctor visits. The bill also cut Medicaid by $4.8 billion, reducing payments for prescription drugs and tightening rules for funds that could be used for nursing home eligibility and allowed states to reduce benefits and increase co-payments paid by beneficiaries. [Vote 363, 12/21/05; Boston Globe, 12/22/05] XXXX Voted For Bill That Cut Medicaid by $4.26 Billion and Medicare by $5.78 Billion. In November 2006, XXXX voted for passage of the Budget Reconciliation bill that made cuts to programs for a net savings of approximately $35 billion over five years. Among other things, the bill cut Medicaid by $4.26 billion and Medicare by $5.78 billion. [Vote 303, 11/3/05] XXXX Voted For Mandatory Cuts in Medicaid and Earned Income Tax Credit. In 2004, XXXX voted against an amendment to cut $14 billion in cuts to Medicaid and the earned income tax credit. [Vote 39, 3/10/04] XXXX Voted For $30 Billion In Aid To States, Including Medicaid Assistance. In 2003, XXXX voted for an amendment calling for at least $30 billion in aid to states, including Medicaid spending assistance. The amendment would express the sense of the Senate that any future economic stimulus package should provide at least $30 billion in fiscal relief to states over the next 18 months, with half of that amount for Medicaid spending assistance. [Vote 64, 3/20/03] XXXX Voted Against Considering An Amendment To Increase The Federal Share In Medicaid For Each State. In 2002, XXXX voted against an amendment that would set each State's Federal Medicaid Assistance Percentage (FMAP) for fiscal year 2002 at its FY 2001 level if its 2001 level was higher than its 2002 level, then it would raise every State's FMAP by 3 percentage points, and then it would raise FMAP levels for States with higher than average unemployment levels by another 1.5 percentage points. The bill failed, 54-41. [HR 622, Vote 8, 1/29/02] XXXX Voted Against Ensuring Basic Daily Reimbursement Rate For Nursing Homes Under Medicaid. In 1997, XXXX voted to kill the Mikulski amendment to S.947, which was an amendment to strike the section of the bill that repeals the Boren amendment to S.947. The Boren amendment was an amendment to ensure a basic daily reimbursement rate for nursing homes under Medicaid. [Vote 124, 6/25/97] MEDICARE DOCTOR REIMBURSEMENT XXXX Opposed Delaying Planned FY 2014 Cuts to Medicare Under Sequester To Prevent Cuts in Medicare Physician Reimbursement Rates. In March 2014, XXXX voted against passage of the bill that would extend Medicare physician reimbursement rates until March 31, 2015, and extend other Medicare and Medicaid payment provisions, including increased inpatient payments for certain low-volume hospitals and specialized Medicare Advantage plans for individuals with special needs. To offset the cost of the payment provisions, the bill would modify the timing of planned cuts to Medicare under the sequester in fiscal 2024. During the first six months of fiscal 2024, there would be a 4 percent cut to Medicare and no cuts to the program in the second half of the fiscal year. The bill passed (thus cleared for the president) by a vote of 64-35. [CQ; Vote 93, 3/31/14] 159