[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 94 (Tuesday, June 29, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1440]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E1440]]
 THE MEDICARE DIABETIC FOOT UCLER CARE IMPROVEMENT AND SAVINGS ACT OF 
                                  1999

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. GEORGE R. NETHERCUTT, JR.

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 29, 1999

  Mr. NETHERCUTT. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased today to introduce the 
``Medicare Diabetic Foot Ulcer Care Improvement and Savings Act of 
1999'' with my colleague from New York, Mr. LaFalce. This bill 
represents an important step forward toward providing people with 
diabetes with the advanced treatment they need to combat some of the 
complications experienced due to diabetes. We expect that it will also 
result in savings to the Medicare budget.
  The legislation would extend Medicare coverage to include advanced 
new therapies to treat diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). Diabetes affects 
nearly six million Medicare beneficiaries and treatment for people with 
diabetes makes up about one-quarter of the Medicare budget--with $1.5 
billion per year of that cost emanating from DFUs. The inclusion of 
such advanced therapies under Medicare would not only significantly 
improve the quality of care for beneficiaries with debilitating lower 
extremity wounds but also result in programmatic savings to Medicare.
  The Lewin Group study found that treatment with recombinant human 
growth factor gel results in faster and more complete wound healing. 
They estimate that Medicare would save at least $22 million in the 
first year alone in reduced DFU-related costs. This potential savings 
is in addition to the direct benefit to patients of better wound 
healing and less exposure to the risks of some of the more serious and 
expensive complications, such as hospitalizations, disability and 
amputations.
  A cure for diabetes is within our reach. In the meantime, the Federal 
government must avail itself of advances in treatment knowledge. In the 
private sector, new technologies have reduced both diabetes specific 
complications and overall health care costs. I encourage my colleagues 
to support this legislation which would apply this knowledge to our 
Medicare program and benefit our Nation's seniors.

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