Tom Latham: “Mr. Chairman, this is a bipartisan Congress, and today we are considering the budget framework that will put our…”

“Mr. Chairman, this is a bipartisan Congress, and today we are considering the budget framework that will put our Nation's finances in order by the year 2002. Republicans and Democrats alike have often stated this goal. Today we all have an opportunity to literally put our money where our mouth is and support this budget resolution. Within this budget agreement is language that specifically addresses one of my greatest concerns. I know I am not alone in this view. I want to ensure that seniors in rural northwest Iowa are going to enjoy Medicare benefits not just in the next couple of years, but for the next generation and beyond. Our seniors have paid into the Medicare system and have every right to expect efficient health care coverage. However, the current Medicare system has always comparatively overcompensated urban areas in regard to the Medicare reimbursement rate at the expense of rural States like Iowa. By efficiently utilizing our health services in the past, the current Medicare law punishes Iowa seniors through low reimbursement rates. Some urban areas receive 2 rac{1}{2} times the reimbursement rate per person than rural areas like northwest Iowa do. What does this current Medicare inequity do for Iowa's seniors? It means a lack of choice in the Medicare plans. No managed care organization could even afford to do business in Iowa to serve my constituents.”