House Republicans want to query CMS actuary

House Republicans said they want to question one of the government's top healthcare actuaries over the long-term costs and overall expectations of the new health reform law.

In a letter sent to Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), GOP leaders said they want Richard Foster, the chief actuary at the CMS, to testify about the future effects of the reform law. “Because the healthcare legislation affects all Americans and a large portion of the American economy, we believe that vigorous and continued oversight is necessary,” according to the letter.

The letter was sent by Rep. Joe Barton of Texas, the senior Republican on the committee, and is signed by 23 other GOP members.

The request comes about a week after Foster and the Office of the Actuary released a report where they predicted that overall health expenditures would increase over the next decade by $311 billion under the new reform law even while a number of provisions meant to tamp down spending go into effect. That figure is $77 billion higher than an earlier estimate.