[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 71 (Friday, June 9, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S4921]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         ACCESS TO INNOVATION FOR MEDICARE PATIENTS ACT OF 2000

  Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I think we all recognize that the Medicare 
Program is outdated. The bill introduced by the Senator from Washington 
would modernize Medicare's coverage to include new biotechnology 
innovations. Currently, the Medicare program covers physician-
administered therapies that are given in an office by infusion or 
injection, but not those that are injected by a patient or a caregiver 
at home. Biotechnology has brought us new innovative biologics that are 
made with large proteins that are so unlike other drugs that they must 
be formulated as injectables. Science has allowed us to make many of 
these new products in the form of simple injections that do not have to 
be given by a health care professional in a clinical setting.
  The bill I have cosponsored today would bring Medicare up to date 
with these developments by ensuring that new biological therapies are 
available to Medicare beneficiaries. It just does not make sense to 
continue Medicare's bias toward treatments that are more expensive and 
less convenient for patients.
  I would like to add one point about the bill's cost. We do not know 
yet what the Congressional Budget Office [CBO] will determine the 
estimated cost of this change in Medicare policy will be. I understand 
the cosponsors of this legislation have requested an estimate from CBO. 
An analysis by the Lewin Group found that this legislation would not 
result in increasing the cost to the Medicare program. This finding is 
not surprising given that the bill would reduce certain costs, such as 
physician office visits and other expensive services, which would no 
longer be needed. I am hopeful that the CBO will reach the same 
conclusion. While it is important to modernize Medicare, it is equally 
important that we do so in a way that does not weaken the financial 
strength of the program.
  I commend Senator Gorton for his leadership on this legislation. It 
represents the kind of constructive reform that is needed in the 
Medicare program; reform that would advance and modernize Medicare 
without imposing additional costs to the program.

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