Political Quotes

“I rise today to join in support of the ``Medicare Hospice Benefit Amendments of 1996'' to be introduced by Senator Breaux. The number of terminally ill patients choosing hospice care over conventional Medicare has increased from 11,000 Medicare admission in 1985 to more than 220,000 Medicare beneficiaries last year. During the current session of Congress, much has been made about the problems with the Medicare Trust Fund. Congress should act as soon as possible to reduce Medicare costs and protect the Medicare Trust Fund. However, radical cuts to the program are not the solution. Instead, we should emphasize prevention, fraud reduction, and successful programs such as hospice care--all proven efforts at reducing spending while maintaining current Medicare quality and beneficiary protections. The goal of hospice is to provide comprehensive health care at home to terminally ill patients in a manner that improves the quality of life for the patients and their families. This approach places a high value of personal choice, family support, and community involvement. Patients covered by Medicare and Medicaid waiver their eligibility for all other public program benefits when choosing hospice care. By doing so, hospice patients are cared for at home with their families and avoid costly hospitalizations. Hospice makes sense from a health care, quality of life, and economic perspective.”