[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 45 (Tuesday, April 11, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E527]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[[Page E527]]



               THE SENIORS HEALTH CHOICE PRESERVATION ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MARK FOLEY

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 11, 2000

  Mr. FOLEY. Mr. Speaker, today, I am introducing the Seniors Health 
Choice Preservation Act. This bill will protect Medicare+Choice HMOs 
from additional payments cuts. Furthermore, the bill will assist 
Medicare HMO's that cover preservation drugs so that they can continue 
to provide this important benefit.
  I believe we have a commitment to America's seniors to provide 
dependable health care through the Medicare program.
  I strongly supported giving seniors more options and flexibility when 
I voted for Medicare+Choice in the Balanced Budget Act.
  Empowering consumers to choose their care is the best way to improve 
quality and affordability in the health care system.
  Unfortunately, more than 700,000 Medicare beneficiaries in 
Medicare+Choice HMOs nationwide have had their coverage either 
disrupted or discontinued over the past two years.
  In some congressional districts--like mine--many seniors were forced 
to return to fee-for-service Medicare because there were no other 
options in this area. Even in areas that still have Medicare HMOs, 
seniors have been hit with increased out-of-pocket costs and reduced 
benefits,
  Seniors in my district love their HMOs. They get things like 
prescription drug coverage, dental care, and eye exams and glasses. At 
a time when HMOs are getting a bad rap in a lot of places, we want to 
keep our HMOs in Florida.
  Unfortunately, the policies of the Health Care Financing 
Administration are making this very hard to do. They have taken some 
well-intentioned provisions in the Balanced Budget Act and twisted them 
in order to cut payments to the HMOs who need it most, forcing them to 
leave certain areas--like rural areas--where they can't cover their 
expenses.
  Even though we provided these HMOs with some relief last year, we 
need to build on this work to guarantee that current and future 
generations of Medicare beneficiaries have a strong health care system 
that offers them choices in how they receive care.
  I urge my colleagues to cosponsor the Seniors Health Choice 
Preservation Act in order to preserve their constituents health care 
choices and to prevent future crisis for seniors on Medicare.

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