Political Quotes

“I ask for 1 minute of the 2 minutes. This provision is providing fundamental fairness so that hospitals in every State of this country have the resources they need to hire the best, most qualified providers. Years ago, CMS came up with an arbitrary formula that excluded a series of States from a payment policy that intended to benefit all hospitals so we are not competing for labor unfairly. A bipartisan policy that began under President Bush continued through multiple administrations until the Trump administration ended it without justification. Making matters worse, our States were at the epicenter of the COVID crisis. This provision would simply provide parity, and it would do so, unlike what the Senator is saying, without decreasing payments for any other State. This is the fairest way to provide parity that our States need and to be able to deal with the challenges of getting people at a time in which we need them the most. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Rhode Island.”