James M. Jeffords: “I rise to once again express my concern over the plight of Medicare beneficiaries who are in need of home health care…”

“I rise to once again express my concern over the plight of Medicare beneficiaries who are in need of home health care services. I am pleased to cosponsor the Home Health Access Preservation Act of 1998, with my colleagues on the Senate Finance Committee, as an attempt to address these concerns. The Interim Payment System which was enacted by this Congress for the reimbursement of home health care services is not achieving the policy goals that Congress wants nor is it not serving the best interest of American citizens. The act is appropriately titled because, without a correction, access to home health services for Medicare's most vulnerable beneficiaries will be seriously damaged. Since the new reimbursement system has been implemented, no fewer than 1,200 agencies have left Medicare program and most of these 1,200 have been forced to cease operations. Although many of our health policy actions are based upon allowing the market to determine the optimum efficiency of our health care system, we must recognize that not all areas and all sectors are prepared for a rapid change in how these forces operate. The problem of access to home care is particularly troublesome in rural areas and inner cities where these services are sorely needed. My home State of Vermont is a case in point. Home health agencies and their patients are facing a true crisis. There are only 13 agencies in the State, all not-for-profit, each serving a distinct and separate area.”