[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 151 (Wednesday, October 21, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2297]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




PENNSYLVANIA SENIORS NEED MORE RELIEF WHEN IT COMES TO HOME HEALTH CARE

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                          HON. GEORGE W. GEKAS

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 21, 1998

  Mr. GEKAS. Mr. Speaker, while today I generally support home health 
care measures added to H.R. 4238, the Omnibus Appropriations Conference 
Report, this solution actually does little to relieve the enormous cost 
being borne by Pennsylvania's senior citizens and the home health 
agencies that serve them. Pennsylvania is particularly affected due to 
the fact that it has one of the largest elderly populations in the 
country. According to home health agencies in my district, the interim 
payment system will eliminate approximately 294,500 visits to home 
bound senior citizens in Pennsylvania, a federal savings of $486 
million at the expense of Pennsylvania's elderly during the first year 
of the interim payment system. The current proposed interim payment 
system will restore only about 15 percent of the dollars taken from 
Pennsylvania beginning in FY 2000. The new agreement is reported to 
cost $1.65 billion with $900 million to come from home health providers 
themselves by reducing future inflation factors. Thus, only $750 
million is new home health funding. Ironically, the contributions of 
Pennsylvania seniors (85 percent of $486 million) is $413 million more 
than half of the additional funding provided nationwide beginning in 
the second year of the interim payment system. This is a total 
injustice to the people of Pennsylvania. This issue must be re-
addressed next year to help eliminate the enormous burden placed on 
Pennsylvania's seniors and home health agencies.

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