The Senate voted yesterday to strip all of President Bush’s $14 billion proposed Medicaid cuts from the national budget for next year.
The amendment was approved 52-48 after days of heavy lobbying by both Republicans and Democrats. Medicaid, which is jointly funded by Washington and the states, provides health care to the poor, disabled and elderly. Although Medicaid is not required by law to cover prescription drugs, most plans do. The Medicaid cuts could be revived when the House and Senate try writing a compromise budget next month.