[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 148 (Thursday, September 21, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1826]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 THE MEDICARE PRESERVATION ACT OF 1995

                                 ______


                      HON. RODNEY P. FRELINGHUYSEN

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 21, 1995

  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss the Medicare 
crisis to share with my colleagues the suggestions I have received from 
my constituents about how best to preserve, protect, and strengthen 
Medicare.
  In April, when the Medicare trustees issued their annual report which 
stated quite clearly that the Medicare Trust Fund would be bankrupt in 
7 years, I felt it was my duty to inform the people of the 11th 
Congressional District of the problem.
  I mailed the facts of the trustees report to over 22,000 people in my 
district. I met with the presidents of nearly every senior citizens 
club in the area. I listened to thousands of Medicare beneficiaries at 
Morristown Memorial Hospital, the Morris Plains VFW, and at St. Clare's 
Riverside Medical Center in Denville. In addition to discussing the 
Medicare crisis, I also asked people for suggestions on how we could 
save and improve the program, while holding down costs.
  Mr. Speaker, the response has been overwhelming. Who better to 
suggest ways to improve Medicare than the very people who have to deal 
with the system every day? As you might imagine, the meetings yielded a 
litany of suggestions. A man from Sparta suggested that Medicare should 
have a better verification system to weed out overcharges and 
duplication of services rendered. A couple from Livingston strongly 
suggested that millions of dollars could be saved by reducing the 
mountains of paperwork involved in the Medicare bureaucracy.
  The responses touched on other subjects as well. At the Morris Plains 
VFW, several people indicated that more preventive care was needed such 
as mammograms, prostate screenings, and diabetes screening. I agree. 
This would not only help reduce costs but greatly improve people's 
health and I was surprised that the current Medicare program was weak 
in this area. If we can keep people healthier and provide routine 
health care and appropriate checkups, we can avoid using the most 
costly method of health care which is the emergency room.
  I have listened to all of these concerns and brought them back to 
Washington. In fact, I applaud the leadership for giving Members an 
opportunity to testify on behalf of our constituents. I was pleased to 
have that opportunity, and testified on September 7, on what I have 
learned from the people of the 11th Congressional District. One 
constant theme was that the people know there is a problem, and they 
want to be part of the solution. If we do not give them that 
opportunity, Mr. Speaker, then we have really solved nothing at all.
  To be sure, I will continue this thoughtful and important discussion 
and listen to these very knowledgeable people. Last week, when the 
preliminary Medicare preservation options were presented to us, I 
called for a series of town meetings so that my constituents could 
share the exact information given to me on possible solutions and plans 
to strengthen Medicare. I am sure they will take a hard look at these 
options, and will continue to provide guidance for me and this Congress 
as we fulfill our responsibility to preserve Medicare for all 
Americans--present beneficiaries as well as the next generation. The 
Medicare Preservation Act is just that, a comprehensive plan to ensure 
a better Medicare.
  On September 16, hundreds of older Americans attended two town 
meetings in Fairfield and Parsippany, and listened to the broad outline 
of the proposed Medicare Preservation Act. I expect that the turnout 
will be even heavier this weekend, September 23, when we continue the 
Medicare discussions at town meetings in Roxbury and Madison.
  I welcome this open exchange of ideas and encourage my colleagues to 
continue the dialogue with the American people on how to save this 
important program. While it is very easy to be sidetracked in 
Washington by special interest groups, media hype, and partisan 
politics, listening to people on a face-to-face level permits a much 
clearer message to emerge.
  Mr. Speaker, the message that I hear more and more is that we know 
there is a problem and we are willing to fix it. They have said that 
Medicare is indeed important for us but is also important for our 
children and grandchildren. And finally, they tell me that if Medicare 
is really going bankrupt, then we as Members of Congress have a 
responsibility to save it.
  I have confidence that we are moving toward fulfilling that 
responsibility, and I thank the thousands of people in the 11th 
Congressional District for their guidance on these very complex issues. 
Their willingness, contributions, and suggestions will assure 
successful reforms of the Medicare program and its preservation. I am 
fortunate to be their Representative, and am also fortunate to help 
deliver a comprehensive plan which will ensure a better Medicare system 
for years to come.

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