[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 12407]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


    H.R. 4954, THE MEDICARE MODERNIZATION AND PRESCRIPTION DRUG ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. BOB ETHERIDGE

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 27, 2002

  Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 4954, 
the fraudulent Republican Medicare bill.
  Prescription medicine coverage is one of the most important issues 
facing our nation today. Since it was created in 1965, Medicare has 
been the bedrock of health security for America's senior citizens. 
However, Medicare is incomplete without prescription medicine coverage. 
I support a plan that is simple, comprehensive, and without gaps in 
coverage. The Republican Medicare bill fails on all of these points.
  Today, prescription medicines are a critical component of medical 
treatment. Indeed, prescription medicines keep many seniors out of the 
hospital and at home with their families. But too many of our seniors 
must choose between paying for food and other necessities or the 
prescription medicines they need to live full, healthy lives. Seniors 
deserve prescription medicine coverage under Medicare. Yet, the 
Republicans continue to play politics with this vital issue.
  There are several flaws in this Republican bill. First, it is 
inadequate. The Republican Medicare bill would cover less than 20 
percent of what seniors are projected to spend on prescription 
medicines over the next ten years. The bill also leaves seniors who 
spend between $2,000 and $3,700 on prescription medicines without 
coverage for part of the year forcing nearly half of all seniors to pay 
the full cost of their medicines.
  Second, the Republican bill provides no guaranteed benefit to 
seniors. The only thing this bill promises seniors is the ability to 
shop around for some type of coverage. There is no specific language in 
this bill that sets premiums at $35. In reality, private plans can 
charge whatever they want for premiums. What's more, under their plan 
the insurance companies that will administer this plan are allowed to 
vary their prices and the availability of coverage all across the 
country, which will shortchange the seniors who need this benefit the 
most.
  Finally, this Republican bill provides subsidies to private insurance 
companies instead of providing seniors with a guaranteed prescription 
medicine benefit. Tonight we see the Republican majority's priorities, 
Mr. Speaker. They put insurance companies first, not our seniors.
  Mr. Speaker, this is not a prescription medicine benefit plan. It's a 
sleight of hand proposal designed to hide the Republican Leadership's 
true intention to eventually privatize Medicare.
  It is noteworthy that the Republican majority has placed a number of 
provisions relating to physicians and hospitals into the bill that I 
strongly support. Currently, physicians are not being adequately 
reimbursed for taking care of Medicare patients, making it difficult to 
keep their doors open. The current system defies common sense, basing 
physician reimbursements on the state of the economy instead of the 
cost or need of health care. The fact is folks do not stop visiting the 
doctor because the economy is sluggish. I support the provisions in 
this bill that would correct this flawed payment system.
  As a Member of the Congressional Rural Health Coalition, I also 
support provisions in this bill to increase the reimbursement payments 
for our nation's hospitals, especially those facilities located in 
rural areas. In fact, I joined 77 of my colleagues in writing the 
Chairmen of the Energy and Commerce and Ways and Means Committees in 
support of provisions to standardize the base payments between rural 
and urban hospitals. Language to this effect is also included in the 
bill. There are other worthwhile measures in this bill, and it is a 
shame these provisions are included in a fundamentally flawed bill.
  Despite these provisions, I am unable to support H.R. 4954 because 
the Republican Majority's Medicare bill will not help America's seniors 
get access to affordable prescription medicines. I support the 
Democratic alternative that is easy to understand, designed to fit into 
our Medicare system, and provides seniors access to all of the 
medicines they need. It also includes all of the provider reimbursement 
provisions that are contained in H.R. 4954. Unfortunately, the 
Republican majority has denied us the opportunity to offer this 
alternative.
  America's seniors deserve a prescription medicine benefit that allows 
them to remain healthy in their golden years. We must strengthen 
Medicare with a real, guaranteed Medicare prescription medicine 
benefit, not a private insurance plan that leaves half of America's 
seniors without prescription medicine coverage. I urge my colleagues to 
reject this sham Republican Medicare bill, and to support the 
Democratic Motion to Recommit.

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