[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 170 (Tuesday, November 17, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11393-S11394]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           HEALTH CARE REFORM

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, we know the House-passed health care 
bill will cut Medicare, raise taxes, and raise premiums. We also know 
the bill being developed by the majority leader will do the same. This 
morning, I want to focus on the $\1/2\ trillion cuts in Medicare--$\1/
2\ trillion over 10 years.
  We have here the House-passed health care bill in its entirety. This 
is a 2,000-page, as the Wall Street Journal called it, ``monstrosity.'' 
In the area of the Medicare cuts, what does that mean? When you say you 
are going to cut Medicare by $\1/2\ trillion over 10 years, what does 
it mean? It means cuts to hospitals, cuts to Medicare Advantage, cuts 
to nursing homes, cuts to home health care, and cuts to hospice. Those 
vital programs would be collectively subjected to $\1/2\ trillion in 
cuts over 10 years.
  Focusing on hospice, this is the section of the bill that deals with 
hospice. The legalese is a little bit mind-boggling, but to give you a 
sense of how these things are written, it says, ``Subclause (VII) of 
section''--and it goes on:

       . . . 1814(i)(1)(c)(ii) of the Social Security Act . . . is 
     amended by inserting after ``the

[[Page S11394]]

     market basket percentage increase'' the following: ``(which 
     is subject to the productivity adjustment . . . ''

  Described in another section.
  You would have to be steeped in legalese and minutia to understand 
what that means, so I am going to interpret it for our colleagues so 
they will know what that means. It means an $8 billion cut to hospice. 
That is what that language means, an $8 billion cut to hospice.
  What does that mean for seniors? According to Victoria Scarborough, 
who is a nurse in Danville, KY, it means sacrificing patient care. Here 
is what she had to say about the prospect of an $8 billion cut to 
hospice:

       We are able to do this--provide excellent health care at 
     low cost--because we are present at the bedside with the 
     patient, sitting at the kitchen table, holding a spouse's 
     hand. We depend upon our highly skilled personnel; our 
     ``services'' are our people. For hospices the productivity 
     adjustment makes little sense, we need our people.

  That illustrates the impact of an $8 billion cut in hospice.
  On the chart behind me, I mention the other areas that are being cut: 
hospitals, Medicare Advantage, nursing homes, home health, and hospice, 
which I just described.
  Another cut would be to Medicare Advantage. The section of the bill--
this is the front page--dealing with the Medicare Advantage reforms, 
they are called, says ``Phase-In Of Payment Based On Fee-For-Service 
Costs.'' What does that mean? What does ``Phase-In Of Payment Based On 
Fee-For-Service Costs'' mean? It means that $236 billion in cuts to 
Medicare will occur--$236 billion in this program out here, Medicare 
Advantage, that will occur as a result of this bill. What does that 
mean, the $236 billion of cuts to Medicare Advantage? The Congressional 
Budget Office has said it means fewer benefits for seniors. That is the 
Congressional Budget Office that says it means fewer benefits for 
seniors.
  Norma Hylton of Lexington, KY, recently wrote:

       Mr. Obama says he'll take away the Medicare Advantage 
     plans. . . . This makes us very concerned about the 
     healthcare plans being debated. I truly believe all seniors 
     (maybe others) will suffer.

  We know the overall bill raises taxes, raises health insurance 
premiums for the 85 percent of Americans who already have health 
insurance, and cuts Medicare by $\1/2\ trillion. This morning, what I 
tried to do is point out what some of those cuts mean; what taking $8 
billion out of hospice means, this important program dealing with folks 
who are at the end of life; and what taking $236 billion out of 
Medicare Advantage means, as a practical matter, to constituents in my 
State and across the country.
  I yield the floor.

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