Health Care Spending and the Federal Budget

Statement

Senator Chuck Grassley issued the following comment about an item in the Budget and Economic Outlook released today by the Congressional Budget Office.

"This information from the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office emphasizes the need for the President and Democratic leaders in Congress to come to the table to work on health care costs rather than simply attacking proposals made by House Republicans. By 2015, health care programs will cost taxpayers more than any place else the government spends money and will continue to do so through 2023. Longer term projections previously produced by the Congressional Budget Office indicate that over the next 25 years, government spending on health care will increase to 10 percent of the Gross Domestic Product. The goal of the health care reform effort that started in 2009 was to expand access and lower health care costs. That goal wasn't met by the policies that became law in a highly partisan process with the Affordable Care Act. Individuals will see that first hand, unfortunately, and it contributes to the very dramatic way that health care costs will burden the federal Treasury."

Source