On the recordSeptember 17, 2003
What this Medicare bill does is set up at least at a minimum two coverage areas that would cover the cities, the suburban areas, and out to the rural areas. That way we bring in a bigger pool. But I will also say again $24.9 billion to rural hospitals we jeopardize if we go off in an opportunity to start instructing conferees and distract from this debate. Let me say one other thing about this legislation. I know my good friends and colleagues are budget watchers, and the idea is that we have a budget that has $400 billion for prescription drug benefit coverage. Anything other than what we have going down the track would probably be risen to a point of order because what they are going to do is expand the cost structure.
Source
govinfo.gov
