[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 57 (Monday, May 2, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E773]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2012

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                               speech of

                         HON. MICHAEL G. GRIMM

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 14, 2011

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H. Con. Res. 34) 
     establishing the budget for the United States Government for 
     fiscal year 2012 and setting forth appropriate budgetary 
     levels for fiscal years 2013 through 2021:

  Mr. GRIMM. Mr. Chair, I applaud Chairman Paul Ryan for his bold 
leadership in finally addressing solutions to our debt crisis in terms 
of deficit reduction and entitlement reform. There is no question that 
our health care entitlement programs are on an unsustainable path, and 
bold action must be taken if we are going to improve our nation's 
financial stability and preserve these health safety nets for future 
generations. Medicare costs are growing twice the speed of our economic 
growth, and elected officials who choose to turn a blind eye to our 
nation's economic distress are doing current and future beneficiaries 
an enormous disservice.
  Chairman Ryan's budget plan shows a clear vision of our choice 
between two futures. I believe he has found innovative solutions to 
curb the unsustainability of Medicare and Medicaid, balance the budget, 
and pay off the debt, without raising taxes. Our social safety net is 
clearly ripping at the seams and reforms must be made if we intend to 
protect our most vulnerable populations. Many governors have urged 
Congress to instate block grants for their state health programs in 
exchange for more flexibility and freedom to find efficient, effective 
ways to cut Medicaid costs without denying essential health care 
services for those most in need.
  Health care is clearly not a one-size-fits-all issue. In my home 
state of New York, Governor Cuomo has already shown leadership and 
found innovative ways to control Medicaid costs in his Medicaid 
Redesign Team. New York has an extremely diverse demographic in our 
Medicaid pool, and transforming the federal government's role into a 
solid Medicaid block program could seriously hamper efforts by state 
agencies that are already working hard to redesign the program and cut 
costs on their own. A block program in New York could result in 
additional cuts in Medicaid reimbursement for hospitals and physicians, 
and possibly cut services to institutions that serve the disabled. In 
the last two years, the state has cut Medicaid reimbursement by $5.3 
billion, and further cuts would only create more hurdles in their 
efforts to provide quality health care to New Yorkers who need it.
  If a block grant is adopted, I believe states should have the ability 
to opt out of the program in exchange for benchmarks to cut costs. New 
York should have a chance to continue their efforts to fundamentally 
redesign the Medicaid system. If New York is forced into a block 
program, the state may not have time to truly fix the system for the 
long haul. Nearly 686,000 hospital and health system jobs fuel New 
York's economic activity in communities across the state. Officials 
must balance the need for reform, and pragmatic approaches to secure 
services for current Medicaid beneficiaries.

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