[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 21]
[House]
[Page 29434]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       MEDICARE CONFERENCE REPORT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the order of the House of 
January 7, 2003, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Gingrey) is recognized 
during morning hour debates for 1 minute.
  Mr. GINGREY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Medicare 
conference report. This is a historic step in the right direction for 
our Nation's senior citizens. We are positioned to pass legislation to 
help seniors pay for the rising costs of prescription medications. Low-
income seniors will be able to obtain the help they need and every 
senior will have the peace of mind of knowing that out-of-pocket 
catastrophic costs will not bankrupt them.
  This legislation will provide the largest comprehensive rural package 
ever considered and updates and sets hospital payments at appropriate 
levels for 2005. The conference report also blocks a proposed 4.5 
percent Medicare reimbursement cut to physicians for the years 2004 and 
2005, and instead provides a 1.5 percent positive update for these 2 
years.
  The Medicare conference report has received the strong support of our 
health care community and the AARP, representing 35 million seniors.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of our senior 
citizens and pass this bill.

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