[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 9]
[House]
[Page 12746]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    PRESERVE AND STRENGTHEN MEDICARE

  (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. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remind my 
colleagues of our responsibility to preserve and strengthen the 
Medicare Program for future generations.
  Last week, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services released 
its annual Medicare trustees report, an update on the long-term 
solvency and effectiveness of this vastly important health insurance 
program.
  While the report projected that the trust fund that finances 
Medicare's hospital insurance coverage will remain solvent until 2030, 
it also cautioned that a high number of Medicare beneficiaries could 
see their Medicare part B premiums sharply increase in January of 2016.
  As a former healthcare professional and nursing home administrator, I 
understand the importance of providing access to quality care at a 
realistic cost. One of the ways we can make Medicare services more 
affordable is by targeting waste and abuse within the program.
  With this in mind, I have consistently worked with my colleagues to 
introduce and support legislation aimed at reducing fraud and 
increasing administrative effectiveness.
  I look forward to continuing these efforts and urge my colleagues to 
join me in finding new ways to safeguard and sustain Medicare.

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