Health overhaul law potentially costs $115B more

Health overhaul law potentially costs $115B more

WASHINGTON (AP) - Congressional budget referees say President Barack Obama's new health care law could potentially add another $115 billion over 10 years to government health care spending.

If Congress approves all the additional spending, that would push the 10-year cost of the overhaul above $1 trillion—an unofficial limit the Obama administration set early on.

The Congressional Budget Office said Tuesday the added spending includes $10 billion to $20 billion in administrative costs to federal agencies carrying out the law, as well as $34 billion for community health centers and $39 billion for American Indian health care.

The additional spending is not automatic, however. Congress would have to specifically release the funds.