[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 82 (Thursday, June 6, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H5938-H5939]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           IMPACT OF MEDICARE AND MEDICAID CUTS ON HOSPITALS

  (Ms. SLAUGHTER asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to send a warning to my 
colleagues who believe that Medicare and Medicaid reductions will not 
reduce the availability of affordable quality health care for millions 
of low-income children, senior citizens and the disabled.
  I would direct all of my colleagues to an article in the June 4 New 
York Times which illustrates the impact on private hospitals of 
Medicaid reductions and the explosion of managed care. The result is 
that many hospitals are in serious financial danger and will ultimately 
close.
  My warning to other Members is to think about their own districts and 
States. If hospitals in New York can close even before the full 
implementation of a $158 billion reduction in Medicare and a $72 
billion reduction in Medicaid, what are the implications for the other 
States? New York has always taken pride in the level of investment in 
health care. Can other States make the same claim?
  I recognize the need to control Medicare and Medicaid spending, but 
the Republican budget proposal goes well beyond fiscal responsibility 
and will result in a reduction in health care services. We can help 
encourage greater efficiency in hospital operations, we can help 
encourage the lack of overutilization in hospitals and we can encourage 
savings, but New York hospitals closing should sound a warning bell to 
all Members of Congress.

[[Page H5939]]



                                 TOP 10

  (Mr. HEFLEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. HEFLEY. Mr. Speaker, we have been desperately trying to find out 
what the Democrat plan to save Medicare was. I have it in my hands 
here. I have discovered it, the 10 top ways the Democrats plan to save 
Medicare.
  First of all, No. 10: Blame it on the Republicans. No. 9: If at first 
you don't succeed, raise taxes. No. 8: Mediscare and don't worry about 
the truth while you are doing it. No. 7: Don't ask, don't tell. No. 6: 
Blame Ken Starr. No. 5: Deny, deny, deny. No. 4: Check the fingerprints 
on the trustees' report. No. 3: Blame the rich. No. 2: Charge it. And 
the No. 1 solution of the Democrats to saving Medicare is: Let it go 
broke, no one will notice.

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