[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 86 (Friday, June 30, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1182]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENSE OF THE HOUSE CONCERNING USE OF ADDITIONAL PROJECTED SURPLUS FUNDS 
                     TO SUPPLEMENT MEDICARE FUNDING

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                            HON. KEN BENTSEN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 28, 2000

  Mr. BENTSEN. Mr. Speaker, the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (BBA) and 
programmatic changes by the Health Care Financing Administration have 
resulted in America's health care providers undergoing great fiscal 
adversities. BBA-compelled reductions to the Medicare program have 
resulted in cost reductions far greater than anticipated. Mr. Speaker, 
since the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, which I supported, cuts in 
payment rates to Medicare health care providers have been far more 
significant and onerous than anticipated. As a result, many health care 
plans have withdrawn or are being forced to withdraw from the 
Medicare+Choice program because of inadequate reimbursement rates, 
particularly in rural areas.
  Since passage of the BBA in 1997, Medicare spending is projected to 
have been reduced by more than $226 billion--nearly $123 billion more 
than Congress intended with the passage of the BBA. To alleviate some 
of these reductions, Congress passed, with my support, the Balanced 
Budget Refinement Act of 1999 (BBRA). Nevertheless, according to the 
Congressional Budget Office's (CBO) projections, reductions to the 
Medicare program are more than four times the $15 billion Congress 
added as part of the BBRA.
  For years, I have been saying we can and must do more to address this 
healthcare problem. Today, with the CBO estimating that the non-Social 
Security surplus to the federal budget will exceed $40 billion, the 
Congress has no excuse but to address this healthcare problem.
  This measure expresses the ``sense of Congress'' that the House of 
Representatives that, upon receipt of midyear Congressional Budget 
Office (CBO) re-estimates of the non-Social Security surplus, should 
promptly assess the budgetary implications of such re-estimates and 
provide for appropriate adjustments to the Medicare program during this 
legislative session.
  I would note that just last week, President Clinton proposed $21 
billion over five years and $40 billion over ten years in restorations 
for these providers. Regrettably, the flawed Republican prescription 
drug bill that passed the yesterday failed to include restoration of 
these BBA cuts, as the President has advanced.
  The Democratic Medicare prescription drug plan, that the Republicans 
were scared to allow this body to vote on yesterday, included these 
payment restorations. This resolution is a belated recognition by the 
Republican leadership that the improved budget outlook with larger 
projected surpluses not only makes these payment adjustments possible, 
but makes them essential.
  Mr. Speaker, in light of economic performance that far surpasses any 
expectations, I ask my colleagues in the House to join me in further 
relieving some of the unanticipated effects of the BBA 1997 and join me 
in supporting H. Res. 535.

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