Nancy L. Johnson: “I conclude by thanking the gentleman from California for his cooperation throughout this long process, and our joint…”

“I conclude by thanking the gentleman from California for his cooperation throughout this long process, and our joint efforts, and also his staff, as I did earlier. They have worked very, very long hours on this. And I would like to say that this bill is only the beginning of strengthening Medicare. The administration is organizing task forces with real-world providers on them to rethink the most time consuming forms that health care providers have to fill out. If we can collect only the data we need, streamline and simplify billing systems and administrative processes, we can literally free millions of hours of caregiver time for the benefit of our seniors. It will take the leadership of Secretary Thompson and Administrator Scully, and it will take long hearings and attention to detail next year and the year after, working together, our committee and the Committee on Energy and Commerce. Together, we can make Medicare a model of smart, responsive government and reverse the belief expressed by so many in our hearings, but summed up by a doctor who said, 'Medicare has lost a sense of fairness, due process and common sense.' We intend to restore those qualities to the most beloved and important program in our Nation not just for seniors but for their children and grandchildren as well.”