As they talked it over, team members found savings in its preferred approach.

Hunkering down and finding savings where they could paid off.

But, if the commission wants to add new benefits, like drugs, it must find savings in the rest of the program.

"The city hasn't done all that it can to find savings," she said in a statement.

And in some states, even people with substantial assets may find little savings.

"It wouldn't be unusual to find savings of between 20 and 30 percent."

The city could find savings in many areas, but at a steep political or, possibly, public safety cost.

He said the city would get much of the added $500 million from state actions or perhaps find other savings.

But Congressional budget officials say they will probably find far smaller savings than that.

The city also hopes to find additional savings through a new system of managed care.