Bob Wise: “Today is February 5, the day that up to 3,000 elderly and homebound West Virginians have dreaded. After today, Medicare…”

“Today is February 5, the day that up to 3,000 elderly and homebound West Virginians have dreaded. After today, Medicare will no longer pay for skilled nurses to perform venipuncture, that is drawing blood, as a sole reason for a home health visit. For the 98-year-old woman living alone on a Randolph County mountain, no nurse will be visiting once a month. An 88-year-old woman who cannot get into the bathtub by herself loses both her monthly nurse's visit but also the home health aide who bathes her twice a week. I do not believe this change was intended as part of the very large Medicare changes that were passed last year. But, in rural areas, many senior citizens who are homebound and bedbound cannot be expected to drive 25 miles to a doctor's office. Think of the costs. People going without regular medical monitoring at home will go without the services until they are so sick that they show up at the emergency room and are hospitalized, the most expensive kind of care both for them and for society. Madam Speaker, this Congress must act to help these people. I have cosponsored the bill offered by the gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. Rahall) to restore reimbursements. It is a frightening day for many homebound senior citizens today. Congress must act.”