A House subcommittee passed a bill Wednesday that would delay seven significant Medicaid regulations until April 1, 2009.

The regulations, which are set to take effect in coming weeks, would reduce Medicaid payments to government-owned facilities. They also would limit states’ use of the provider tax, which helps nursing homes receive Medicaid funding. In total, they are projected to cut Medicaid by an estimated $50 billion over five years.

Reps. John Dingell (D-MI) and Tim Murphy (R-PA) introduced the bill (H.R. 5613), which is expected to be considered by the full committee next week. It was revised to require a study of the impact of the regulations on states. It also would provide $25 million yearly to investigate Medicaid fraud and abuse and offset the cost of the moratoria.