[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 144 (Thursday, September 11, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1774]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          INTRODUCTION OF THE MEDICARE HOSPICE PROTECTION ACT

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                         HON. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 11, 2008

  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Medicare 
Hospice Protection Act to help preserve Medicare beneficiaries' access 
to hospice services. I am pleased to be introducing this legislation 
with my colleagues Jim Ramstad and Maurice Hinchey.
  Established as a Medicare benefit in 1983 to ensure that all 
beneficiaries could access high quality end-of-life care, hospice is a 
comprehensive model of care that encompasses the physical, spiritual, 
emotional, and practical needs of the patient. Considered to be the 
model for quality, compassionate care at the end of life, hospice care 
involves a team-oriented approach of expert medical care, pain 
management, and emotional and spiritual support expressly tailored to 
the patient's wishes. Hospices around the country provide invaluable 
services and care by enhancing the quality of life for the terminally 
ill.
  The Medicare hospice benefit has significant cost savings. A Duke 
University study showed that patients receiving hospice care cost the 
Medicare program about $2,300 less than those who did not.
  Unfortunately, the Bush Administration and the Centers for Medicare 
and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently issued a final rule that would 
eliminate the budget neutrality factor in the Medicare hospice wage 
index. This will result in a $2.18 billion reduction in Medicare 
hospice reimbursement over 5 years and threatens the ability of hospice 
providers to care for the terminally ill. This legislation seeks to 
prevent CMS from implementing this shortsighted rule until October 
2009.
  I initiated a letter in April 2008, signed by 49 House members, to 
Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt urging him to 
reconsider issuing this rule that phases out the current budget 
neutrality factor in the Medicare hospice wage index. That letter was 
ignored as the Administration has moved forward and issued this 
misguided regulation.
  Madam Speaker, as our nation faces the continuing challenges of 
meeting the health care needs of an aging population, now is not the 
time to cut back on Medicare reimbursement for hospice services, which 
is cost effective and saves Medicare money. I invite my colleagues to 
join us to pass the Medicare Hospice Protection Act to ensure access to 
hospice services for the patients and families who need it.

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