Political Quotes

“Finally, I just say, for those of us in Iowa, in a small, rural State, with a lot of midsized hospitals, with a lot of people uninsured--and quite frankly, we are not in the upper echelons of income in the United States--for us this health care law provides immediate protections, immediate benefits, and promises even more benefits as we get to 2014 and beyond. It would be a devastating blow to my constituents in Iowa to have this health care reform bill repealed. That is why I so strenuously urge all my colleagues to oppose the McConnell amendment. Mr. President, I yield the floor. Exhibit 1 Medicare Reimbursement Changes Will Benefit Iowa Hospitals, Doctors (By James Q. Lynch, July 1, 2010) A proposed change in Medicare reimbursement could increase payments to Corridor hospitals by more than $4 million next year. Under changes expected to be finalized later this month, reimbursement for Medicare services would increase payments to St. Luke's Hospital by $794,841 and to Mercy Medical Center by $584,883. In Iowa City, the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics could see an increase of $2.3 million in 2011 and Mercy Hospital could get a $509,898 boost. At the same time, a rule change on reimbursement to doctors could boost their Medicare payments by 5 percent beginning next year. ``This will mean a great deal to Iowa hospitals that have been struggling for many years,'' according to 1st District Rep. Bruce Braley, a Waterloo Democrat. He is part of a group of U.S.…”