[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 50 (Thursday, April 24, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H1800]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   MEDICARE TRUSTEES REPORT DUE TODAY

  (Mr. PETERSON of Pennsylvania asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PETERSON of Pennsylvania. Today, the Medicare trustees are due to 
report on the projected solvency of the Medicare part A trust fund. As 
we all recall, last year's report predicted the part A trust fund would 
be insolvent by the year 2001 without reform. We also know that in 1996 
the trust fund lost $25 million a day and is now losing over $30 
million a day.
  Ladies and gentlemen of this House, this is unacceptable. The state 
of the Medicare Program warrants serious discussion proposing genuine 
solutions. A recent proposal introduced in the House would add 
provider-sponsored organizations to the managed care options available 
to Medicare beneficiaries. By allowing groups of affiliated providers 
to organize and deliver a broad base of health care services, we can 
offer new choices for quality care that is community based. For a rural 
district like mine, increased choice is a welcome opportunity. Whether 
your district is rural, urban, or suburban, we all know that localized 
solutions work best.
  I ask Members to support that measure.

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