[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 59 (Monday, April 26, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H2855-H2856]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                REPORT ON HEALTH CARE REFORM LEGISLATION

  (Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, throughout the health 
care reform debate, I focused on four tenets. We needed to improve 
affordability, access, quality and choice. I said when the bill passed 
that it did not fulfill those requirements.
  It gives me no pleasure to show you where the actuary report for the 
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services agrees with me.

[[Page H2856]]

  Affordability. ``By 2011 and 2012, the initial $5 billion in Federal 
funding for high risk pools will be exhausted, resulting in substantial 
premium increases to sustain the program.''
  Access. The report projected that Medicare cuts would drive about 15 
percent of hospitals and other institutional providers into the red, 
``possibly jeopardizing access'' to care for seniors.
  Quality. Some 18 million uninsured are estimated to go on Medicaid 
for their primary coverage, which will fail to provide meaningful 
access.
  And finally, Choice. ``We estimate that in 2017, when the provisions 
will be fully phased in, enrollment in Medicare Advantage plans will be 
lower by about 50 percent.''

  If you chose Medicare Advantage, half of you will be out of luck.

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