[THIS IS THE PERIODIC BRIEFING FROM THE WHITE HOUSE TO ITS OFFICIALS AND OTHER SUPPORTERS OF ITS HEALTH-REFORM PROGRAM. IT PROVIDES AN INSIDE LOOK AT HOW THE ADMINISTRATION IS PROMOTING ITS PLAN. THIS ITEM WILL ALWAYS HAVE THE SAME SUBJECT LINE (WITH DIFFERENT DATES) SO YOU CAN EASILY SKIP IT IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO READ IT. -- Steve Freedkin , LIST.HEALTHPLAN Administrator] The White House Health Care Reform Today March 1, 1994 SUMMARY: The Department of Health and Human Services today released a study showing that all states will save under the President's approach to health reform. These state-by-state reports are great news for the governors and state legislators who have been struggling with the high cost of providing care to their citizens. And it is great news to the hardworking taxpayers in these states who spend more and more of their earnings on health care every year. ALL STATES WILL SAVE UNDER HEALTH REFORM: The President's approach to health reform will produce savings for all states. This will reduce the burden on taxpayers, reduce the burden on state and local budgets, and allow states to redirect resources towards other priorities -- such as improving education, fighting crime, building highways, and expanding job training. Overall, states will save at least $45.8 billion between 1996 and 2000 under the President's approach. Savings come from three primary areas: Medicaid Program: States will experience dramatic savings when they enroll current Medicaid beneficiaries in private health plans, where costs would increase at a slower rate. These savings will total $31.9 billion over 5 years. Home and Community Based Long-Term Care: The Health Security Act creates a new federal/state program of home and community-based care for the elderly and disabled that would enable states to qualify for increased federal revenues. These savings will total $7.6 billion over 5 years. As Employers: States will benefit from both a slower rate of growth in health insurance premiums for public employees, as well as from assistance in health care costs for their early retirees. These savings will total $6.3 billion in the year 2000 alone, including $700 million in savings for early retirees.