Gus Bilirakis: “In 1997, Congress courageously acted to save Medicare from bankruptcy as a part of the Balanced Budget Act. However, the…”

“In 1997, Congress courageously acted to save Medicare from bankruptcy as a part of the Balanced Budget Act. However, the real-life effects of that law were far greater than expected or intended. The legislation before us today will restore $28 billion in essential health care funding for providers and the patients they serve. It will also increase preventive health benefits for seniors, including screenings for glaucoma and colon cancer, medical nutrition therapy, and Pap smear screenings and pelvic exams. I was pleased to coauthor provisions of the original 1997 balanced budget law, which expanded Medicare coverage or preventive health services. By diagnosing conditions in a timely manner, we can improve the quality of life for beneficiaries and ultimately reduce the costs of treatment for many patients. The President has threatened to veto this critical measure that does so much to help America's seniors. He has expressed concern regarding the amount of funding provided for Medicare+Choice plans. But most of us have heard from an overwhelming number of seniors in our districts who support the Medicare+Choice plans, and who want Congress to make sure that they are adequately funded. This legislation does just that, and it spends approximately $6 billion for it, not $30 billion, not one-half of that, but 22 percent of the total of $28 billion.”