[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 66 (Tuesday, May 21, 2002)]
[House]
[Page H2667]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   MEDICARE PHYSICIAN REIMBURSEMENTS

  (Mr. HEFLEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. HEFLEY. Mr. Speaker, we are always being asked, what are you 
hearing out there? What are you hearing out there in your district? I 
will tell my colleagues what I am hearing. I am hearing, ``I cannot 
find a doctor.''
  I receive countless calls and letters from people in Colorado 
regarding Medicare physician reimbursements and how it is affecting 
their access to doctors. Physicians have either decided to no longer 
accept any new Medicare patients or not see their current Medicare 
patients because they are losing money due to reimbursement payments 
not covering the costs. In Colorado Springs 2 months ago, one-third of 
all doctors under the Colorado Springs Health Partners program dropped 
all of their Medicare, Medicaid and Tricare patients.
  So much focus over the last several years has been on preserving and 
strengthening the Medicare trust fund that we have lost sight of the 
fact that if a Medicare recipient cannot find a doctor, we have a 
program in name only. Unfortunately, in Colorado and many other parts 
of the country, that is what has happened. Reforms need to be 
implemented now to restore Medicare, the Medicare program, as it was 
intended to be.
  I believe that reducing Medicare's physician payments will have a 
devastating impact on physician reimbursement and put at risk seniors' 
access to medical services.

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