The House and Senate May 17 passed the FY 2008 budget resolution conference agreement, which was hammered out by conferees a day earlier.  The budget agreement does not call for cuts in Medicare or Medicaid provider payments, and expresses nonbinding support for the State Children's Health Insurance Program and "Medicare improvements" including physician payment increases and improvements in provider quality and efficiency. The agreement also establishes nonbinding support for reforming the hospital area wage index, and promoting the adoption of health information technology, among other measures. The House appropriations subcommittees will begin their review of the resolution immediately.