[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 39 (Thursday, March 25, 2004)]
[House]
[Page H1487]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   HOW PHYSICIANS WILL BENEFIT FROM NEW PRESCRIPTION DRUG LEGISLATION

  (Mr. SHIMKUS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about the Medicare 
prescription drug bill and one of the other great benefits that has 
come to our Nation, and that has been in the physician payment arena.
  First, this law will block the impending physician payment cuts that 
were scheduled for 2004 and 2005, as well as give physicians increases 
of 1.5 percent for the next 2 years. In Illinois where we are losing 
physicians because of medical malpractice issues, having a provision 
that keeps doctors in Illinois is very, very critical. As a result of 
overturning the cuts and increasing the payments, Illinois stands to 
keep 400 million for Illinois physicians and the patients they serve. 
The geographic payment adjuster has been set at 1.0 in 2004 through 
2006, which affects how physicians are paid in different regions of the 
country. The agreement also provides for physician scarcity bonus 
payments from 2005 to 2007. These grants go to those who practice in 
areas where there is a shortage of physicians.
  Mr. Speaker, there is a shortage of physicians in Illinois because of 
medical malpractice, and physicians are leaving the State. At least in 
the Medicare prescription drug bill, there is help for keeping some of 
those.

                          ____________________