[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 117 (Thursday, August 18, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 18, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
   INTRODUCING LEGISLATION EXTENDING PREVENTIVE HEALTH CARE THROUGH 
                                MEDICARE

  (Mr. REGULA asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. Speaker, today I, along with the gentleman from New Jersey, Mr. 
Bill Hughes, Chairman of the House Older Americans Caucus, I am 
introducing legislation which expands preventive health care services 
through Medicare, saving both lives and Federal tax dollars.
  The bill establishes a 4-year demonstration project which would 
provide Medicare patients with preventive services such as screening 
for colon cancer, prostate cancer, and osteoporosis. If cost and health 
improvement criteria found the program effective, such services could 
then become reimbursable nationwide under Medicare.
  Our proposal is based on a pilot project I sponsored 5 years ago--
reimbursing Medicare patients for flu shots. The flu shot program is 
estimated to save $60 million annually in Medicare outlays and nearly 
60,000 lives. Moreover, the program improved the flu shot delivery 
system.
  Through expanding Medicare benefits with the preventive services 
outlined in our bill, I believe that we can further reduce our Medicare 
and health care costs. I urge all Members who support improving 
Medicare services while preventing thousands of unnecessary deaths of 
senior citizens to join us in cosponsorship.

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