Baucus Continues Push For Katrina Health Package
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) Today, U.S. Senator Max Baucus, ranking member of the SenateFinance Committee, led the debate on the Senate floor urging passage of S. 1716, the EmergencyHealth Care Relief Act. Baucus drafted the legislation with Chairman Grassley of the SenateFinance Committee. Senator Baucus’ comments on the Senate floor follow:
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MR. BAUCUS: MR. PRESIDENT, THERE ARE AN ESTIMATED 1.5 MILLION INDIVIDUALS
WHO SURVIVED HURRICANE KATRINA AND ARE NOW SCATTERED ACROSS THE ENTIRE NATION.THE STORIES OF WHAT THEY HAVE ALREADY EXPERIENCED ARE HARROWING. THEY ARE --THEIR SUFFERING AND DEPRIVATION ARE BEYOND WHAT MANY OF US COULD IMAGINE, ANDTHEIR NEEDS, ESPECIALLY FOR HEALTH CARE SERVICES, ARE GREATER THAN MOST OF USHOPED TO EVER KNOW.
TODAY I COME TO THE FLOOR TO SHARE JUST A FEW STORIES OF THOSE SURVIVORS ANDTHE PROBLEMS THAT THEY ARE FACING IN GETTING THE HEALTH SERVICES THEY NEED. THEHEALTH SERVICES THAT THEY NEED. MANY ARE UNINSURED, WITHOUT MEANS TO PAY FORFOOD AND SHELTER, LET ALONE PRESCRIPTION DRUGS OR A DOCTOR'S VISIT.
AS I SAID WHEN I SPOKE ON THE SENATE FLOOR ON A WEDNESDAY NIGHT, ONE IN THREESURVIVORS WHO HAVE APPLIED FOR MEDICAID IN LOUISIANA HAVE BEEN TURNED AWAY.
WHY? BECAUSE THEY DON'T MEET MEDICAID'S TRADITIONAL ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA. THESEPEOPLE NEED HELP. THE GRASSLEY-BAUCUS BILL WOULD DELIVER IT TO THEM WITHOUTDELAY, WITHOUT UNCERTAINTY.
AS WE CONSIDER MOVING FORWARD ON THIS LEGISLATION, I WANT TO REMIND MYCOLLEAGUES OF THE FACES OF THOSE WE ARE TRYING TO HELP.
THE SURVIVORS OF HURRICANE KATRINA ARE PEOPLE LIKE EUGENE JOHNSON, AGE 57,RETIRED PLUMBER, DIABETIC, LOST HIS HOME IN KATRINA. HE, HIS WIFE, AND FOUR OF HIS FIVECHILDREN HAVE MOVED FROM SHELTER TO SHELTER. HE NEEDS EYE MEDICINE THAT HE LEFTBEHIND IN NEW ORLEANS. BUT HE COULD NOT AFFORD THE $119 COST OF THE PRESCRIPTION.
WITHOUT HIS MEDICINE, HE WILL GO BLIND. AN AID GROUP, THE CHILDREN'S HEALTH FUND,PROVIDED HIM THE MEDICINE, BUT RESPONDED WITH THESE WORDS "WE'RE A STOPGAP.NOTHING MORE."
MAUDE JORDAN, WHO SLEPT ON TOP OF HER [REFRIGERATOR FOR THREE DAYS BEFOREBEING RESCUED FROM NEW ORLEANS. PENNILESS AND DIABETIC, SHE WAS TAKEN TO A RELIEFCENTER IN BATON ROUGE. HER APPLICATION WAS REJECTED BY MEDICAID, HOWEVER,BECAUSE SHE WAS “UNABLE TO ESTABLISH ELIGIBILITY BECAUSE CANNOT ESTABLISHCATEGORICAL ELIGIBILITY.” GIVE ME A] BREAK. SHE NEEDS HELP NOW. THAT'S WHAT OURBILL DOES.
DWAYNE RUSE, 44, LIVED INDEPENDENTLY IN A SPECIALLY-OUTFITTED APARTMENT INNEW ORLEANS AND MANEUVERED AN ELECTRIC WHEELCHAIR. HE LOST HIS WHEELCHAIRWHEN HE WAS EVACUATED TO GEORGIA AND WAS PLACED IN A NURSING HOME. THE LOCALDIRECTOR OF ADVOCACY AT A SPECIALTY HOSPITAL AND REHABILITATION CENTER HELPEDHIM OUT, BUT STATED -- QUOTE -- " DWAYNE IS JUST ONE PERSON, BUT HE DEMONSTRATESTHERE'S LOTS OF PEOPLE OUT THERE IN THE SAME PREDICAMENT WHO ARE NOT GET THE HELPTHEY NEED."
TOM LEYNES, AGE 49, WAS A CARPENTER WITH AN APARTMENT JUST OFF THE BEACH, AHAPPY FAMILY MAN. AFTER KATRINA, HE FOUND THE BODIES OF HIS TWO LITTLE GIRLSHOLDING HANDS. NOW HE'S STRUGGLING WITH DEPRESSION, LIVING IN A TENT, TAKINGMEDICATION, TRYING TO DEAL WITH THE PAIN. HE NEEDS HELP.
THERESA BIELLER, 39, GULFPORT, MISSISSIPPI, WAS FOLLOWING A 15-PILL REGIMEN FORA HEART PROBLEM AND OTHER CONDITIONS BEFORE THE STORM. MOST OF HER PRESCRIPTIONSWERE ALREADY LOW OR EMPTY. SHE HAD NO ELECTRICITY TO OPERATE A NEBULIZER FOR HER2-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER CHLOE. HER CHEST PAIN AND WEAKNESS MOUNTING, BIELLERCHECKED INTO A HOSPITAL. SHE CAME OUT THE NEXT DAY WITH A MERE THREE-DAY SUPPLY,NOT 15. SHE HAS NO INSURANCE, LITTLE CASH TO BUY THE EXPENSIVE DRUGS. SHE NEEDSHELP.
“PRECIOUS” IS THE NAME GIVEN BY NURSING HOME STAFF TO AN ELDERLY WOMANEVACUATED TO TENNESSEE. PRECIOUS BECAUSE SHE CAN'T REMEMBER HER NAME. PRECIOUSCAN TALK, BUT SHE'S UNABLE TO TELL STAFF WHO SHE IS OR WHAT HER HEALTH CAREPROBLEMS ARE. SHE SPENT FOUR DAYS IN A HOSPITAL BEFORE BECOMING A RESIDENT ATBORDEAUX LONG-TERM CARE. HOW HER CARE WILL BE PAID FOR IS UNKNOWN.
THESE SURVIVORS AND HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS LIKE THEM ARE WAITING FORCONGRESS TO ACT. TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN GET THE HEALTH CARE SERVICES THEYNEED, AND THEY CANNOT AFFORD ANOTHER MOMENT FOR THIS ASSISTANCE AND NEITHERCAN WE. THEY CAN'T WAIT. I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO JOIN ME IN SUPPORTING THIS MOTION,WHICH I'LL NOW OFFER FOR UNANIMOUS CONSENT ON THE GRASSLEY-BAUCUS EMERGENCYHEALTH CARE RELIEF ACT.
MR. PRESIDENT, I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT THE SENATE PROCEED TO THEIMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION OF CALENDER NUMBER 214, S. 1716, WITH THE GRASSLEY-BAUCUSSUBSTITUTE BILL, WHICH IS AT THE DESK, BE AGREED TO AND, THE BILL BE READ A THIRD TIMEAN PASSED, THE MOTION TO RECONSIDER BE LAID UPON THE TABLE, AND THAT ALL THISOCCUR WITH NO INTERVENING ACTION OR DEBATE.
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THE PRESIDING OFFICER: IS THERE OBJECTION?
MR. SUNUNU: MR. PRESIDENT?
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: OBJECTION IS HEARD.
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MR. BAUCUS: MR. PRESIDENT?
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE SENATOR FROM MONTANA.
MR. BAUCUS: MR. PRESIDENT, I KNOW THAT ALL THE PEOPLE IN THE STATE OFARKANSAS ALREADY KNOW HOW MUCH THEIR SENATOR FIGHTS FOR THEM. I JUST WANTED TOSTATE MY PERSPECTIVE. THE SENATOR FROM ARKANSAS IS ONE OF THE BEST. SHE'S ABELIEVER. SHE FIGHTS FOR HER PEOPLE, AND ALL OF US ARE VERY GRATEFUL FOR THAT.
MR. PRESIDENT, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO MAKE A COUPLE, THREE POINTS ABOUT THIS.ONE IS THIS LEGISLATION TO HELP HEALTH CARE NEEDS OF EVACUEES AND VICTIMS ONACCOUNT OF KATRINA IS DESPERATELY NEEDED, AND IT IS GOING TO PASS. IT'S JUST AQUESTION OF WHEN THAT WILLFUL BAND OF THREE OR FOUR SENATORS IS GOING TORECOGNIZE THAT SO WE CAN GET ON WITH IT AND HELP SOME PEOPLE WHO REALLY NEEDSOME HELP. THAT IS WHAT THIS REALLY COMES DOWN TO.
YOU HEAR A COUPLE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS LEGISLATION. LET ME JUST BRIEFLYEXPLAIN WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT. BASICALLY THIS IS AN EFFORT TO HELP PEOPLE. IT'S AMODEST EFFORT. IT'S LEGISLATION DESIGNED BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE,SENATOR GRASSLEY, REPUBLICAN, AND MYSELF, THE RANKING DEMOCRAT. WE'VE WORKEDWITH ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. WE'VE WORKED WITH THE STAFFS OF THECOMMITTEES. WE'VE WORKED WITH SENATORS OF STATES DIRECTLY AFFECTED, ASKING THEIRVIEWS.
IT'S BALANCED. IT'S NOT NEARLY AS EXTREME AS [WHAT] SOME HAVE SUGGESTED --SOME OTHER SENATORS. I MIGHT SAY THAT A COUPLE OF THE SENATORS BACKED OFF IT TOOFFER THE LEGISLATION ON THE PROMISE WE IN THE FINANCE COMMITTEE WOULD COME UPWITH A BILL, A BALANCED BILL, SENATOR GRASSLEY AND MYSELF, TO BRING THAT BILL TOTHE FLOOR. HERE WE ARE A COUPLE WEEKS LATER. WE IN THE FINANCE COMMITTEE DID OURPART. IT IS UP TO THE SENATE TO DO THEIR PART AND TAKE UP THIS BILL AND PASS THIS BILL.RECOGNIZING THAT THIS IS ONLY TEMPORARY, MR. PRESIDENT. THIS IS ONLYTEMPORARY RELIEF. ONLY TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE TO THE HEALTH CARE NEEDS OF PEOPLEIN LOUISIANA AND ARKANSAS, ALABAMA, THE STATES AFFECTED. THIS IS NOT PERMANENT. BYTEMPORARY, I ONLY MEAN ABOUT FIVE MONTHS. MY GOSH, MR. PRESIDENT, BY THE TIME WEGET THIS ENACTED, YOU KNOW, VIRTUALLY A MONTH WILL HAVE ALREADY PASSED. WE'RETALKING ABOUT FIVE MONTHS LEGISLATION -- FIVE MONTHS DURATION OF THIS LEGISLATION.SOME ARE CONCERNS, WELL, GEE, THIS IS AN ADDITIONAL ENTITLEMENT, IT'S MOREMONEY, IT'S AN ENTITLEMENT. WELL, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMIND OURSELVES THAT INOUR COUNTRY, WE HAVE A PROGRAM CALLED MEDICAID. WHAT IS MEDICAID? MEDICAID ISOUR SAFETY NET. IT'S REALLY THE LAST RESORT FOR PEOPLE GETTING HEALTH CARE IF THEYCAN'T AFFORD IT OTHERWISE AND DON'T HAVE IT OTHERWISE. THEY CAN'T GET IT AT THEIRPLACE OF EMPLOYMENT, THEY'RE NOT WEALTHY, SO THEY CAN'T BUY HEALTH INSURANCE, SOIT'S JUST -- WE HAVE SOMETHING CALLED MEDICAID. IT'S HEALTH CARE FOR LOW-INCOMEPEOPLE, PEOPLE WHO JUST DON'T HAVE MUCH MONEY WHATSOEVER. IT'S KIND OF A SAFETYNET TO CATCH PEOPLE WHO OTHERWISE WOULD FALL BETWEEN THE CRACKS.
IT'S REALLY DIRECTLY DESIGNED TO PEOPLE WHO ARE AFFECTED BY KATRINA. SOMANY PEOPLE IN LOUISIANA AND ALL THESE STATES DON'T HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE. THEYJUST DON'T HAVE IT. THEY DON'T HAVE IT FOR SEVERAL REASONS. ONE, THEY COULDN'TAFFORD IT OR THEY WORK FOR SMALL BUSINESSES WHICH, AS WE KNOW, HAS A HARDER TIMEPROVIDING HEALTH INSURANCE, OR THEIR BUSINESSES LAID THEM OFF SO THEY DON'T HAVETHE HEALTH INSURANCE, DON'T HAVE THE INCOME. WHATEVER REASON, THEY DON'T HAVEHEALTH INSURANCE. AND THEY NEED HEALTH CARE NOW, ESPECIALLY DIABETICS,ESPECIALLY PEOPLE WHO NEED DIALYSIS, ESPECIALLY SENIORS OR MAYBE NOT SENIORS WHOHAVE VERY DEFINITE IMMEDIATE EXTRAORDINARY HEALTH NEEDS. ONE OUT OF THREEMEDICAID APPLICATIONS IN . . . LOUISIANA, HAVE BEEN TURNED DOWN BECAUSE THEY DIDN'TMEET THE CRITERIA.
AND THE CRITERIA, AS WE KNOW TODAY, ARE PRETTY LOW. . . . OR I MIGHT SAY ITDIFFERENTLY, . . . IT'S DIFFICULT TO GET ON MEDICAID IF YOU HAVE A SIGNIFICANT INCOME ORJUST SOME INCOME, IF YOU HAVE SOME ASSETS, IF YOU HAVE . . . SOME ASSETS AND SOMEINCOME, YOU DON'T GET HEALTH CARE. SO WE'RE SAYING LET'S RAISE THE ELIGIBILITYCRITERIA A LITTLE BIT. IT IS SAME MEASURES WE PROVIDED FOR VICTIMS OF -- THE SAMEMEASURE WE PROVIDED FOR VICTIMS OF 9/11, IT'S THE SAME PROVISION. THE INCOME LEVELSARE INCREASED ONLY VERY MODESTLY, VERY SLIGHTLY, AND THE CATEGORIES THAT ARECOVERED ARE VIRTUALLY THE SAME. SO I ASKED MYSELF, I ASK MY COLLEAGUES, IF THESURVIVORS OF 9/11 COULD GET THIS KIND OF MEDICAID HEALTH CARE INSURANCE, WHY IN THEWORLD CAN'T PEOPLE WHO ARE AFFECTED BY KATRINA GET THE SAME? IT'S THE SAME. THEPEOPLE IN NEW YORK CITY GOT HELP RIGHT AWAY, AND IT WAS PASSED VERY QUICKLY. WHYCAN'T THE PEOPLE OF LOUISIANA, ARKANSAS, THE PEOPLE IN MISSISSIPPI, ALABAMA GET THESAME COVERAGE? IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE TO ME, MR. PRESIDENT.
NOW, . . . THE KIND OF CATCH-ALL OBJECTION I HEARD EARLIER TODAY WAS, WELL, GEE,THIS ISN'T QUITE RIGHT. IT'S NOT THE BEST. WELL, THERE'S NEVER GOING TO BE "THE BEST."WE ALL KNOW IT'S OFTEN IMPORTANT TO NOT LET PERFECTION BE THE ENEMY OF THE GOOD.IS IT GOING TO BE PERFECT? NO. IS IT VERY, VERY GOOD? YES. CAN WE ADJUST IT ANDCHANGE IT IF WE NEED TO MAKE SOME CHANGES? CERTAINLY. BUT LET'S BEGIN.
THIS IS AN EMERGENCY, MR. PRESIDENT. IT'S A BIT REMINISCENT -- AND I DON'T WANTTO BE TOO MELODRAMATIC ABOUT THIS, BUT WE'VE HAD CRISIS IN OUR NATION'S PAST,WHETHER IT'S PEARL HARBOR OR SPUTNIK, WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE, THIS CONGRESS REACTEDVERY QUICKLY TO THESE CRISES. WELL, THIS, TOO, IS A CRISIS FOR THESE PEOPLE IN THIS PARTOF THE COUNTRY. WE NEED TO ACT AS QUICKLY. IT'S A CRISIS FOR THEM. AND IF WE DON'TACT, MANY PEOPLE ARE NOT GOING TO GET THE HEALTH CARE THEY NEED. OR, TO PUT ITDIFFERENTLY, THEY'RE GOING TO BE BURDENED BY THE ADDITIONAL CONCERN ABOUTWHETHER THEY'RE GOING TO GET THEIR HEALTH CARE, WHETHER THEY'RE COVERED UNDERMEDICAID, WHETHER IT'S GOING TO BE THERE. ADDED TO ALL THE OTHER PROBLEMS THATTHEY HAVE -- WHERE ARE THEY GOING TO LIVE, WHERE ARE SOME OF THEIR LOST LOVED ONES,WHERE -- WHAT'S NEXT FOR THEM, ARE THEY GOING TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THE CAR PAYMENTS,THE HOUSE PAYMENTS -- I MEAN, THE PROBLEMS OF THE PEOPLE OF LOUISIANA AND THESESTATES ARE COMING UP WITH ARE JUST INCREDIBLE. WHY CAN'T WE THEN JUST IN A SMALLWAY HELP WITH HEALTH CARE?
NOW, I'VE HEARD THE OBJECTION, WELL, YOU KNOW, GEE, SENATOR, YOURLEGISLATION DOES NOT ALLOW A REDUCTION IN FMAP PAYMENTS TO 29 STATES. AND AFTERALL, THERE ARE MORE THAN 29 STATES, THAT'S A LOT OF STATES. THERE ARE ONLY ABOUTTHREE OR FOUR OR FIVE, SIX, SEVEN STATES THAT ARE MOST AFFECTED. LET ME EXPLAIN THIS,MR. PRESIDENT.
CURRENTLY, THE SCHEDULED REDUCTION IN . . . FEDERAL PAYMENTS TO STATES, IT'SCALLED FMAP, IT'S JUST IRRESPECTIVE OF KATRINA, IT'S IN THE LAW. IT'S BECAUSE CERTAINSTATES A FEW YEARS AGO HAD HIGHER INCOMES BECAUSE OF AVERAGING AND DATA LAGS,THE INFORMATION IS REALLY QUITE DATED. BUT THE POINT IS, THIS LEGISLATION SAYS, OKAY,FOR THOSE 29 STATES THAT ARE GOING TO HAVE AUTOMATICALLY THEIR FEDERAL PAYMENTSTO STATES COVER MEDICARE DROP, WE'RE SAYING THEY WON'T DROP TEMPORARILY. WE'RENOT INCREASING THE FEDERAL PAYMENT TO STATES. WE'RE NOT INCREASING IT AT ALL.WE'RE JUST SAYING IT WON'T DROP FOR 29 STATES THAT ARE OTHERWISE SCHEDULED TO DROPTEMPORARILY. I THINK IT'S A YEAR -- FOR A YEAR'S TERM.
WELL, WHY IS THAT SO IMPORTANT? WHY IS IT IMPORTANT NOT TO LET FEDERALPAYMENTS DROP TO THOSE STATES? MR. PRESIDENT, IT'S PRETTY SIMPLE. THESE ARE STATESWHICH HAVE A LOT OF ADDITIONAL COSTS, A LOT OF EVACUEES ARE GOING TO THESE STATES.MANY, MANY ARE GOING TO THESE STATES WHICH PUTS AN ADDITIONAL BURDEN ON THESESTATES. NOW, IT'S NOT JUST MEDICAID BURDENS THAT ARE PLACED ON THESE STATES. THESESTATES ARE ALSO GOING TO HAVE TO PAY ADDITIONAL MEDICAID COSTS OR OTHER SOCIALSERVICE COSTS, OTHER EDUCATION COSTS TO PAY FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOW COMING TOTHEIR STATES AND WHO NEED HELP.
LET ME GIVE JUST A LITTLE BIT OF A FLAVOR OF WHAT THAT MEANS IN TERMS OFDOLLARS AND CENTS. LET'S TAKE THE STATE OF ARIZONA. THEY'RE SCHEDULED TO HAVEABOUT A HALF A PERCENT REDUCTION. THAT'S ABOUT $30 MILLION DROP IN PAYMENTS TO THESTATE OF ARIZONA FOR MEDICAID. WHICH IS NOW GOING TO PICK UP AT LEAST 2,000 MOREPEOPLE. THAT DOESN'T MAKE A LOT OF SENSE.
LET'S TAKE THE STATE OF NEVADA. ABOUT A 1.14% DROP IN FEDERAL PAYMENTSUNDER MEDICAID. THAT'S ABOUT $14 MILLION FEWER DOLLARS THAT NEVADA'S GOING TOOTHERWISE RECEIVE. AND THEY'VE GOT TO PICK UP ABOUT 1,500 ADDITIONAL PEOPLE.
LET'S TAKE THE STATE OF OK OKLAHOMA, ALMOST A 2.25% REDUCTION. THAT'S ABOUTA $66 BILLION REDUCTION AND ABOUT 4,000 PEOPLE AT LEAST THAT WE KNOW OF WHO AREGOING TO BE LIVING TEMPORARILY AT LEAST IN OKLAHOMA AND WHO HAVE TO PICK UPTHOSE OTHER COSTS.
SO ALL WE'RE SAYING IS IT DOES MAKE SENSE NOT TO LET THERE BE A REDUCTION.WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR AN IN INCREASE. WE'RE JUST SAYING NO REDUCTION IN FEDERALPAYMENTS TO THE STATES AFFECTED. I MIGHT ADD THAT 25 OF THE 29 STATES ON THIS LISTARE STATES WHERE THE PRESIDENT'S DECLARED A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY BECAUSE OFKATRINA. 25 OF THE 29 STATES ARE STATES WHERE THE PRESIDENT HAS DECLARED A PUBLICHEALTH EMERGENCY INDICATING THAT THERE ARE ADDITIONAL PRESSURES ON THOSESTATES, ADDITIONAL PRESSURES ON THE PEOPLE IN THOSE STATES. WE'RE JUST TRYING TOPROVIDE SOME TEMPORARY HELP.
NOW, YOU HEAR SOMETIMES, WELL, THE ADMINISTRATION IS SUGGESTING A WAIVER.
SENATORS HAVE MENTIONED THE PROBLEMS WITH THE WAIVER AND I'LL JUST VERY BRIEFLYLIST THEM. ONE IS THAT THE -- THAT THE WAIVER DOES NOT COVER A LOT OF PEOPLE WHOARE GOING TO NEED CARE. MAJOR CATEGORY IS CHILDLESS ADULTS. IF YOU'RE A SINGLEMAN, A SINGLE WOMAN, YOU DON'T GET ADDITIONAL ANY COVERAGE HERE. THAT DOESN'TMAKE ANY SENSE. IT DOES MAKE SENSE TO GIVE ASSISTANCE TO CHILDREN -- WOMEN WITHCHILDREN, BUT IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE NOT TO GIVE ANY ASSISTANCE TO A SINGLE PERSON,A MAN OR A WOMAN? THAT'S THE EFFECT OF THE WAIVER THAT THE ADMINISTRATION ISTALKING ABOUT. WHY CREATE ALL THESE ADDITIONAL CONCEPTIONS? LET'S JUST SAY, ASTHIS LEGISLATION DOES, OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO UTILIZE THIS MEDICAID SAFETY NET AND IDON'T CARE WHETHER YOU'RE A SINGLE PARENT, OLD OR WHAT, IF YOU DON'T HAVE THEINCOME, YOU'RE COVERED, WE'RE GOING TO HELP YOU OUT FOR FIVE MONTHS. WHAT'S WRONGWITH THAT? DOESN'T THAT MAKE SENSE? TO ME, IT MAKES A LOT MORE SENSE.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO ADD TO THAT, THIS LEGISLATION IS STRONGLY SUPPORTED BY THEGOVERNOR IN THE STATES AFFECTED. IT'S BIPARTISAN. REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS,DEMOCRATIC GOVERNORS. GOVERNOR RILEY OF ALABAMA WANTS THIS LEGISLATION.GOVERNOR BARBOUR OF MISSISSIPPI WANTS THIS LEGISLATION. GOVERNOR BLANCO OFLOUISIANA WANTS THIS LEGISLATION. REPUBLICANS, DEMOCRATS.
YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT, TOO, HEY, SENATORS AROUND HERE SAY, WELL,GEE, THE LOCAL PEOPLE KNOW WHAT THE NEEDS ARE. THE LOCAL PEOPLE KNOW BEST. WE INCONGRESS, WE'RE TOO TOP-DOWN. WE ISSUE THESE ULTIMATUMS, WE PASS THIS LEGISLATIONAND IT'S THE LOCAL PEOPLE THAT REALLY KNOW. MR. PRESIDENT, IT'S THE LOCAL PEOPLETHAT REALLY WANT THIS. IT'S THE LOCAL PEOPLE WHO ARE ASKING US FOR THIS. THESENATORS FROM LOUISIANA BOTH ON [THIS AND] THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE, THEY WANTTHIS. SENATOR LOTT, SENATOR COCHRAN, THEY WANT THIS. SAME FOR THE SENATORS WITH --IN ALABAMA. BOTH REPUBLICANS. THEY WANT THIS. THEY WANT THIS LEGISLATION. SAMEWITH THE SENATORS FROM LOUISIANA. NOW, ONE'S REPUBLICAN, ONE A DEMOCRAT. THEYWANT THIS. I MENTION THE GOVERNORS WANT IT. THE DELEGATIONS, HOUSE DELEGATIONSWANT IT.
AND IT'S -- IT'S -- AGAIN, I REMIND MY COLLEAGUES, IT'S TEMPORARY. IT'S ONLY FORFIVE MONTHS.
THEN LET'S GET INTO THE QUESTION OF UNCOMPENSATED CARE TO HOSPITALS. THISLEGISLATION, AGAIN SCRUBBED, WORKED OVER, PROVIDES FOR $800 MILLION OFUNCOMPENSATED CARE TO PROVIDERS IN THE STATES AFFECTED TO BE ADMINISTERED BYH.H.S. AND GRANTS TO THOSE UNCOMPENSATED -- FOR UNCOMPENSATED CARE FOR THOSEHOSPITALS. WHEREAS THE ADMINISTRATION SAYS, WELL, WE'LL -- WE'LL GIVEUNCOMPENSATED CARE IN WAIVERS. BUT WE'RE NOT SAYING HOW MUCH. WE'RE NOT SAYINGHOW. IT'S JUST A PROMISE. I'M SAYING, YOU KNOW, IT'S DEEDS, MR. PRESIDENT, IT'S NOTWORDS. IT'S DEEDS.
I MIGHT ALSO ADD THAT THE WAIVER PROCESS THE ADMINISTRATION TALKS ABOUT ASITS ALTERNATIVE HAS HUGE, BIG PROBLEMS ABOUT IT. TO BE HONEST ABOUT IT. WHAT ARETHEY? WELL, THE BASIC PROBLEM IS THIS. THE ADMINISTRATION SAYS OKAY, WE'LL MAKEYOU STATES WHOLE UNDER MEDICAID; THAT IS, YOU CHARGE US, THEN YOU BILL US, ANDWE'LL PAY YOU. THERE'S A REAL QUESTION WHETHER THEY HAVE THE AUTHORITY UNDER THELAW TO DO THAT. IT'S A HUGE ISSUE. IN FACT, JUST COMING TO WORK TODAY, I HEARD AGEORGE WASHINGTON PROFESSOR JUST TALK ABOUT THIS. SHE SAYS THEY CAN'T -- UNDERTHE LAW, THEY CAN'T DO THAT. AND DO YOU KNOW WHAT I THINK'S GOING TO HAPPEN? SOMEARE GOING TO DUCK UNDER THIS WAIVER IDEA AND SAY OKAY, WE'LL MAKE YOU WHOLE,STATES, AND THEN THERE'S A BIG DEBATE OVER THE -- WHETHER LEGALLY THEADMINISTRATION CAN DO THAT OR NOT AND IT . . . KIND OF FADES AWAY. AND GUESS WHAT?THESE STATES DON'T -- YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET IT. THESE HOSPITALS AREN’T GOING TO GETTHAT EXTRA UNCOMPENSATED CARE EITHER.
AND ALL I'M SAYING IS THIS IS A QUICK, CERTAIN WAY. IT'S MEDICAID. WE ALL KNOWMEDICAID. WE KNOW THAT IT WORKS. THE PROVIDER NETWORKS ARE SET UP. THE PROCESS ISSET UP. THE PEOPLE ARE THERE. AND SO LET'S JUST RAISE THE INCOME LEVELS JUST A LITTLEBIT -- JUST A LITTLE BIT -- TEMPORARILY FOR FIVE MONTHS. LET'S GET ON WITH IT. RATHERTHAN THIS VERY UNCERTAIN ADMINISTRATIVE IDEA OF WAIVERS AND WHAT THEY ARE,WHAT'S -- WHAT THEY CAN AND CANNOT DO.
WE'VE ALREADY ESTABLISHED UNDER THE LAW ONE THING THEY CANNOT DO, THEYCANNOT GIVE MEDICAID ASSISTANCE TO ALL THE CATEGORIES UNDER MEDICAID. THEY CANJUST PICK AND CHOOSE A FEW. AND THOSE -- IN THAT CHOOSING, THERE'S DISCRIMINATIONAGAINST WHO GETS AFFECTED WHO GETS HELP WHO DOES NOT -- WHO GETS HELP AND WHODOES NOT. KATRINA SURVIVORS NEED TO KNOW, ARE THEY GOING TO GET HELP OR NOT?THEY DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE ADDITIONAL WORRY OR NOT WHETHER OR NOTTHEY'RE GOING TO GET HELP.
FINALLY, MR. PRESIDENT, I JUST -- I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT THIS -- THISQUESTION BEFORE US TO A LARGE DEGREE TESTS US AS A NATION, AS A PEOPLE, AS A SENATE,AS A CONGRESS. WHO ARE WE? WHAT DO WE STAND FOR? ARE WE GOING TO STAND HEREAND BICKER OVER MINUTE LITTLE DETAILS WHILE PEOPLE NEED HELP? ARE WE GOING TO BEKIND OF FEMA-LIKE AND JUST BE HESITANT AND NOT RESPOND IMMEDIATELY? WHAT SIGNALDOES THAT SEND? WHAT SIGNAL DOES THAT SEND TO THE PEOPLE AFFECTED? WHAT SIGNALDOES THAT SEND? . . .
THAT'S ONE OF THE REASON WE SHOULD GO THROUGH MEDICAID. THERE ARE ALREADYANTIFRAUD PROVISIONS, PROTECTIONS SET UP UNDER MEDICAID TODAY. THAT'S ALREADY INEXISTENCE. AND IT JUST SEEMS TO ME THAT IT'S PRETTY SIMPLE. IT DOESN'T TAKE ROCKETSCIENCE TO FIGURE THIS ONE OUT.
LET'S HELP THESE PEOPLE. LET'S DO IT NOW. AND WE'LL TAKE UP OTHER DISASTERASSISTANCE MATTERS IN SUBSEQUENT WEEKS AND DAYS AND HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY THENTO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS THAT MAY OR MAY NOT SEEM NECESSARY. BUT AT THIS VERYMOMENT, AT THE VERY LEAST, LET'S PASS THIS LEGISLATION NOW.
AND MIGHT I SAY, BEFORE I FINISH, MR. PRESIDENT, WE'RE GOING TO PASS IT. WE ARE.AND I JUST -- OBVIOUSLY, IF YOU'RE GOING DO SOMETHING, YOU MIGHT AS WELL DO ITEARLIER THAN LATER AND GET ON WITH IT. I JUST HOPE THAT THE SENATORS WHO AREOPPOSED TO THIS -- FOR REASONS I CAN'T FULLY UNDERSTAND -- FINALLY BEGIN TO SIT DOWNAND SAY, OKAY, SOMETIMES DISCRETION IS THE BETTER PART OF VALOR. LET'S JUST PASS THISAND GET ON WITH IT. THANK YOU.
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