Frank Lucas: “I rise today on behalf of hospitals and Medicare beneficiaries across this country who have a vested interest in…”

“I rise today on behalf of hospitals and Medicare beneficiaries across this country who have a vested interest in changing the way the Health Care Finance Administration, HCFA, and its financial intermediaries itemize the explanation of Medicare benefits and Medicare summary notices, both of which are statements each Medicare beneficiary receives from HCFA for services rendered them that they are reimbursed by Medicare. Unfortunately for hospitals and Medicare beneficiaries, these statements all too often contain inaccurate and misleading information; specifically, information that overstates the amount that Medicare reimburses hospitals for inpatient services, and understates a hospital's contribution to financing any shortfall in Medicare reimbursements for such services; information that clouds the truth for Medicare beneficiaries instead of clarifying the truth. At a time when hospitals' margins are shrinking due to changes in Medicare reimbursement rates, at a time when hospitals have been plagued by the inappropriate use of the False Claims Act and at a time when the President in his fiscal year 2000 budget has proposed further cuts in Medicare, it is about time that hospitals be given the credit they deserve for financing part of the inpatient expenses as a result of Medicare's underpayment.”