Political Quotes

“Thank you, Mr. President. Good morning. We have in front of us two approaches to addressing home health care needs and stopping the 15-percent cut that is scheduled to go into effect in October of 2002. I applaud my colleague from Maine for her commitment to this issue. I share that commitment, having worked very closely for 4 years in the House of Representatives with the agencies and associations involved in home health care. I know we share a deep concern about the fact that there has been a 24-percent cut in patient care in home health care settings as a result of the Balanced Budget Act. I consider that an unintended consequence. I do not believe that it was intended that we see a 30-percent reduction in the number of agencies that serve Medicare patients. And as a result of that, we have seen this 15-percent cut delayed on three different occasions. Today is the opportunity for us to send a strong message to the patients and families who rely on home health care, and the home health care agencies that do such a wonderful job, and say that, in fact, this cut will not take effect and they can proceed in providing quality care for our families.”