[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 145 (Monday, September 18, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1796]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  TRIBUTE TO HOME HEALTH CARE WORKERS

                                 ______


                         HON. RONALD D. COLEMAN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 18, 1995

  Mr. COLEMAN. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity today 
to extend my gratitude to all of the thousands of nurses, therapists, 
physicians, and home care aides who have devoted their lives to provide 
in-home health care.
  Home care is a wonderful way to treat sick and disabled individuals 
without having to separate them from their familiar and comfortable 
surroundings. Because it is so popular, home care is the fastest 
growing sector of American health care delivery today. Between 1990 and 
1994, the number of Medicare beneficiaries that received home health 
services almost doubled.
  However, despite the fact that health care increase in services costs 
in general have risen at enormous rates, the cost of this service has 
been increasing at a rate far below that of the Consumer Price Index. 
In fact, Medicare payments for this service had leveled off in 1993 and 
were well below projected levels of spending in 1994.
  Certainly, this is an economical and caring way to provide for our 
sick and disabled with health care that they can rely upon. It also 
benefits the families that live with the individuals who require home 
care by allowing them to have day to day contact with their loved ones.
  I believe that home health care is the type of system we need to put 
more emphasis on when Congress structures its debate on health care 
reform.

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