House passes budget resolution with potential cuts to Medicaid

The House of Representatives voted 215-212 to pass a fiscal year 2005 budget resolution that instructs the Energy and Commerce Committee to come up with $2.185 billion in savings from fiscal years 2005-2009 – and the reductions are likely to come from Medicaid.

Leaders now need to reconcile House and Senate budget differences in conference. The Senate previously passed a budget not calling for Medicaid cuts.

Officials said they expected the compromise session to begin Tuesday or Wednesday, with the goal of voting on a budget conference report by the end of this week.