[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 69 (Friday, May 24, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E931]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    EXPRESSING OPPOSITION TO THE MEDICARE WAGE ADJUSTMENT PROVISION

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                          HON. DANNY K. DAVIS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 23, 2002

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the 
Medicare Wage Adjustment Provision. The pure thought of allowing 
selected hospitals in two states to receive preferential treatment over 
the hospitals in the other 48 states is simply absurd. Similar to the 
hospitals in my Colleagues' districts, the 23 hospitals in my district 
are faced with extreme cuts in funding on the state and federal level 
and cuts in Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements. By granting the 
selected hospitals in Pennsylvania and New York a wage adjustment, we 
are taking more money away from the hospitals in other districts.
  We do not need unnecessary funding to this already expensive bill. We 
do not need to give special treatment to a few hospitals and the 
members which represent them, who did not seek help or adjustment based 
on procedure by going to CMS or allowing the policy to be considered or 
reported by the Ways and Means Committee. Instead, the Members of these 
hospitals were looking for a political shortcut and are attempting to 
use this legislation.
  Every week, Mr. Speaker, I meet with my hospital constituents to 
discuss the alarming issues the hospital industry is facing, such as 
the nursing shortage, the cuts in reimbursements to the hospitals and 
physicians, the cuts in Medicare Indirect Medical Education Payments 
and the list sadly continues. This provision will only add to the 
current feeling of distress among our country's hospitals.
  Mr. Speaker, I stand side by side with my Republican Colleagues and 
my Democrat Colleagues in support of our troops and homeland security. 
However, this provision is one which I cannot stand behind knowing the 
amount of damage that will arise. This is not about the War on 
Terrorism. This is not a fair provision intended to help all Americans.

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