Pete Domenici: “I rise today with my friends Senator Lincoln, Senator Rockefeller, and Senator Thomas to introduce the ``Medicare Access…”

“I rise today with my friends Senator Lincoln, Senator Rockefeller, and Senator Thomas to introduce the ``Medicare Access Equity Act of 2003,'' a bill to address the inequality that exists in Medicare reimbursement levels to urban and rural physicians. Nothing is more important to our families than accessible and available health care. When we become ill and need treatment, we must turn to our doctors for help. But, imagine this, a hospital filled with the latest technology, and no doctors to administer treatment. Does this sound ridiculous? It's not. Rural patients often have difficulty obtaining timely care due to a shortage of physicians, and, the problem I have described is not just occurring in my home State of New Mexico, forty-one other States are experiencing similar problems because of a common set of rules and procedures. In most rural areas, Federal policy undermines a doctor's ability to see Medicare patients by establishing disparity in reimbursement levels.”