[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 38 (Wednesday, March 10, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E396]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


               NURSING HOME PROTECTION AMENDMENTS OF 1999

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                               speech of

                            HON. BART STUPAK

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, March 9, 1999

  Mr. STUPAK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 540, The 
Nursing Home Resident Protection Amendments. I am an original co-
sponsor of this legislation and want to thank Chairman Bilirakis and 
Chairman Bliley for their support of this measure. In addition, I want 
to thank Mr. Davis of Florida for his hard work as well as the 
Democratic Ranking Members Mr. Dingell and Mr. Brown.
  Mr. Speaker, for senior citizens a nursing home is a home. Our 
Nation's elderly or disabled should not have to worry that they will be 
evicted from their nursing homes, merely because they are on Medicaid.
  This bill will prevent incidents, like the one in Florida, where a 
nursing home lied to the residents and their families about undertaking 
renovations as a pretext for evicting their Medicaid residents.
  Some of my colleagues have voiced concerns during the markup in 
committee that since we repealed the Boren amendment, States could 
readjust their payments to pay nursing homes less than the cost of 
service. I would be very concerned if this would occur, because the 
Governors lobbied Congress to repeal the Boren amendment, based on a 
promise they would not lower rates below reasonable payments. However, 
I agree with my colleagues that we need to be vigilant in watching 
whether States lower their Medicaid payments to unreasonable levels and 
believe we should take action if that occurs. I urge my colleagues to 
vote for this bill.

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