[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 20]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 29060]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



  MEDICARE, MEDICAID, AND SCHIP BALANCED BUDGET REFINEMENT ACT OF 1999

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. ROGER F. WICKER

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, November 5, 1999

  Mr. WICKER. Mr. Speaker, the Balanced Budget Act included provisions 
to safeguard the long term solvency of the Medicare system, but for a 
number of reasons the mandated reductions exceeded estimates and 
provided a lower level of reimbursement than Congress directed. The 
Medicare Balanced Budget Refinement Act corrects this problem and 
restores vital funding to the Medicare program to allow health care 
providers to meet the needs of their communities.
  This important legislation will ease the financial crisis which has 
threatened the quality of health care service for millions of 
Americans. I am pleased we have been able to work in a bipartisan 
fashion to bring relief to the small rural community hospitals which 
provides the foundation for rural America.
  I am hopeful that in addition to the supporting this legislation, the 
Health Care Financing Administration will make the needed 
administrative changes to ensure that small rural hospitals will 
receive adequate Medicare reimbursement. I look forward to working with 
HCFA and member of both political parties to restore balance to the 
Medicare system.

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