[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 65 (Wednesday, April 23, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E693]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             PROTECTING THE MEDICAID SAFETY NET ACT OF 2008

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. ANNA G. ESHOO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 22, 2008

  Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I'm proud to be a cosponsor of the Protecting 
the Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008 and very pleased that a bipartisan 
agreement was reached to bring the bill up under suspension of the 
rules because it's essential for the House of Representatives to pass 
this legislation as soon as possible.
  Over 2,100 organizations across the country have told Congress that 
we have to stop the seven regulations issued by the Centers for 
Medicare and Medicaid Services, CMS, over the last year because they 
threaten the loss of $50 billion in Federal funding for key healthcare 
services. California's Governor Schwarzenegger has estimated that the 
regulatory changes will place an additional $12.5 billion burden on 
California alone.
  CMS has claimed these cuts are being imposed to eliminate waste from 
the Medicaid program. Far from addressing ``inappropriate'' payments, 
the seven regulations that CMS adopted will cut legitimate and 
necessary care for the most vulnerable in our society. Rather than 
using the power it already has to address waste, fraud, and abuse, CMS 
has taken the wrong turn by simply declaring that it will not pay for 
services.
  CMS is saying ``no'' to rehabilitation services to help people with 
profound disabilities and medical conditions maintain or gain function.
  CMS is saying ``no'' to case management services that help people get 
the medical care they need and are entitled to; this includes services 
for individuals with disabilities who are trying to move out of 
institutions and into the community.
  CMS is saying ``no'' to specialized transportation to help children 
with disabilities get to and from school.
  CMS is saying ``no'' to compensating safety-net hospitals for their 
critical services to the communities.
  By adopting this bill, we will stop the implementation of these 
draconian regulations. The bill will require an HHS study and report on 
the regulations and their impacts on states, something CMS failed to 
do. For those concerned about waste, the bill provides additional 
funding for the Secretary to root out true fraud within the system. 
Finally, the costs of the bill are fully paid for by requiring 
electronic verification of assets for individuals applying for 
Medicaid.
  With many of these regulations due to take effect very soon, it's 
critical that the House pass this bill today with a margin that will 
convince the President that a veto will not be sustained. I urge my 
colleagues to join me in voting for this important bill.

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