The House and Senate have approved a conference agreement on S. Con. Res. 70, the fiscal year 2009 budget resolution, which sets forth the annual spending and revenue framework for the Congressional committees. The budget blueprint authorizes Congressional committees to address certain health policies if offsetting revenues are specified, including legislation to: promote health information technology; encourage comparative effectiveness research; improve Medicare Part D; and block certain recent Medicaid rules. The resolution does not call for steep cuts in Medicare and Medicaid funding, as had been proposed in the President’s budget.