[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 113 (Thursday, July 13, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H6920]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      MEDICARE PROGRAM IN DISTRESS

  (Mr. FARR asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, help.
  I've fallen and can't get up!
  This is the cry of a program--the Medicare program--in deep distress.
  This is the cry of America's elderly as they tremble at the prospect 
of losing access to doctors, hospitals and medicines as the Medicare 
program is held hostage to the Republican steamroller of deficit 
reduction. By the year 2002, the average senior citizen will pay $1,200 
a year more in Medicare premiums.
  This is the cry of health care providers across the country as they 
struggle to meet the needs of their patients in the face of ever-
restrictive government reimbursement policies. Under the proposed $270 
billion cut to Medicare, hospitals will crumple--one hospital in my 
district will have to reduce its health care services by $5.6 million. 
That's just one hospital. Multiply that by the number of hospitals in 
your district.
  And what for? So rich people can wallow poolside in their second and 
third homes.
  What do we get?
  Tax breaks for the rich.
  Tough breaks for the little guy.
  

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