Now that we appear to have a bipartisan agreement on the doc fix, the question is how will they pay for the $136.1 $150.4 billion price tag (CBO, including the extenders). (prior CBO cost estimates here and here) UPDATE: the latest official CBO score on the doc fix sets the price at $115.1 based on S.1871; the latest bipartisan agreement between the House and Senate has not yet been scored by CBO but informal reports suggest the cost will be $126 billion (without extenders) or $170 billion with extenders. h/t to Loren Adler.
The CBO has a general list of 16 fiscal options relating to health:
Many of these options are quite controversial. Reduce funding for the NIH? Reduce benefits for some veterans? Raise Medicare eligibility to 67? Convert Medicare to a premium support system? Cap Medicaid, removing the entitlement? Eliminate subsidies in the exchanges above 300% FPL?
The deal’s not done until they’ve agreed on how to pay for it.
@koutterson
Updated to reflect CBO cost estimates
