Date: 2007-08-01
Speaker: MCMORRIS RODGERS (republican)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I rise in opposition to the Rule. Mr. Speaker. I strongly believe we must ensure access to quality and affordable health care. this has been a top priority for me as eastern Washingtons Representative in this House. I wholeheartedly support renewing the SCHIP program. which was originally created under Republican control of Congress in a bipartisan fashion. Ensuring health care for low income children who need it the most should be our priority. I also wholeheartedly support access to health care for seniorsbut unfortunately. because of partisan politics. a vote for this proposal is a yote to kick over 157.000 seniors off their Medicare advantage plans in Washington state. Further. if this rule and this bill pass the House -today. two hospitals in my district. North Valley Hospital inTonasket and MidValley Hospital in Omak. would be forced to close. their doors to our community. These hospitals were started by concerned physicians who banded together to provide health care in a remote region that is largely comprised of Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. This bill forces these doctors to sell their "share" of the hospital--which is less than 1 percent a piecebecause it incorrectly assumes they are unethically selfreferring patients. That may be a problem in other parts of the country but not in Okanogan County. These two hospitals- are the closest hospitals within 5.000 square miles and serve the countys 40.000 residents. There has to be a better way to prohibit unethical practices. Shutting down the only vehicle forhealth care delivery is not the answer. which is why I cosponsored an amendment to this rule that would have allowed these hospitals to. continue to serve all residentsfrom kids to seniorsin Okanogan County. Unfortunately. this amendment was not allowed under the Democratic leadership. Not only does this bill devastate the already delicate rural.health care infrastructure in parts of eastern Washington. but it cuts deep in the pocket of seniors in order to pay for a runaway. expansion of this- childrens health program that covers a 25yearold adult. Proponents of this bill might argue that it is necessary to kick seniors off of their Medicare plans in order to cover poor children. I would then ask them:. do you consider a family of four making $82.000 dollars a year. a poor family? That is who we are covering here. In eastern Washington alone. over 10.000 seniors would lose their choice in Medicare coverage to pay for this reckless expansion. They will be forced to find- and pay out of. pocket for their own prescription drug plans. pay for rapidly increased premiums. lose direct senior services. and have a harder time finding a primary care doctor because most prefer -the Medicare Advantage payment rate. Meanwhile. this rule and the underlying bill will make it easier for illegal immigrants to get health carefunded on the backs of middle class families and small businesses. Not only do this bill and the underiying rule slash $193 billion from seniors health care. but its stealth tax increases will draw off money from every American with a health insurance plan. This rule endangers seniors in my communityMr. Speaker. we can and must do better.