[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 7 (Thursday, February 5, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H338]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   HOME HEALTH CARE BENEFITS MUST BE RESTORED FOR MEDICARE RECIPIENTS

  (Mr. WISE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. WISE. Madam Speaker, today is February 5, the day that up to 
3,000 elderly and homebound West Virginians have dreaded. After today, 
Medicare will no longer pay for skilled nurses to perform venipuncture, 
that is drawing blood, as a sole reason for a home health visit.
  For the 98-year-old woman living alone on a Randolph County mountain, 
no nurse will be visiting once a month. An 88-year-old woman who cannot 
get into the bathtub by herself loses both her monthly nurse's visit 
but also the home health aide who bathes her twice a week.
  I do not believe this change was intended as part of the very large 
Medicare changes that were passed last year. But, in rural areas, many 
senior citizens who are homebound and bedbound cannot be expected to 
drive 25 miles to a doctor's office.
  Think of the costs. People going without regular medical monitoring 
at home will go without the services until they are so sick that they 
show up at the emergency room and are hospitalized, the most expensive 
kind of care both for them and for society.
  Madam Speaker, this Congress must act to help these people. I have 
cosponsored the bill offered by the gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. 
Rahall) to restore reimbursements. It is a frightening day for many 
homebound senior citizens today. Congress must act.

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