[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 69 (Friday, May 24, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E911]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      MEDICARE PROVISIONS OF THE SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS BILL

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. JOHN ELIAS BALDACCI

                                of maine

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 23, 2002

  Mr. BALDACCI. Mr. Speaker, I rise to offer an amendment to strike 
Section 1404 from this bill. This provision would assist a mere handful 
of hospitals in Pennsylvania and New York, at the expense of every 
other hospital in the country. Mr. Speaker, we cannot afford to drain 
funding from any of our nation's hospitals, especially as we debate a 
bill that is meant to strengthen our ability to respond to medical 
emergencies that could strike anywhere across the nation.
  Mr. Speaker, hospitals in my State of Maine cannot afford any further 
reimbursement cuts, no matter how small. My state already has the 5th-
lowest Medicare reimbursement rate in the country. Our hospitals are 
operating on razor-thin margins. In a state as geographically large as 
Maine, we already struggle with access to medical services. Further 
cuts will only exacerbate the problem.
  This provision is a clear case of robbing Peter to pay Paul. In fact, 
it's even worse because there are just a few select Pauls, and a nation 
full of Peters. Why should the vast majority of Members tell their 
seniors that their access to care may be jeopardized by a gift to a few 
select hospitals somewhere else? How can we effectively fight AIDS and 
infectious diseases through increased spending in this bill, when at 
the same time we weaken our hospitals? What sense does it make to give 
money to speed our first response to attacks, while at the same time 
taking funds from the hospitals who would be on the front line?
  If the Pennsylvania and New York counties that are helped by Section 
1404 actually met the criteria for geographic reclassification, they 
would have been approved by the Medicare Geographic Classification 
Review Board. Instead, these counties will be boosting their Medicare 
reimbursement rates by going around the rules--the rules that the rest 
of us have to live by.
  Mr. Speaker, I know all too well that the geographic adjustment 
system for Medicare payment rates needs reform. My State of Maine is 
among the most egregiously affected by the current system, and I would 
be happy to work with any of my colleagues who wish to seek reform to 
make reimbursement rates more equitable. I strongly support improved 
reimbursement for all our nation's hospitals. However, this provision 
in this bill only serves to benefit a select number of facilities, and 
will detract from the ability of all others to meet their obligations 
to Medicare beneficiaries.
  Section 1404 is unfair, it's unjust, and it's just plain bad policy. 
It certainly does not belong in an Emergency Supplemental, and 
therefore I move that we strike this provision from the bill. If we 
cannot remove this provision today, then I am hopeful that we can fix 
the problem in conference. This bill funds vital areas like defense, 
security and health, and the final bill should not be marred by this 
destructive measure.

                          ____________________