OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Preventing Across-The-Board Direct Spending Cuts

Floor Speech

Date: March 25, 2021
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Health Insurance

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Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I rise today to support the Shaheen- Collins substitute to prevent a cut in Medicare reimbursements for hospitals, nursing homes, home health agencies and other healthcare providers who continue to care for their patients in this era of COVID. Congress twice last year suspended the 2-percent Medicare sequester in bipartisan COVID relief packages, and I hope we can do so once again.

At a time when our country is relying so heavily on our healthcare providers to help get us back to normal, we cannot ignore the financial realities they face. Almost half--17 out of 36--of Maine hospitals finished last year with a negative operating margin. According to Northern Light Health in Maine, relief from the Medicare sequester amounts to $1 million per month.

The Shaheen-Collins amendment will extend the current sequester moratorium until the end of the year. This financial certainty is needed in these uncertain times.

I urge my colleagues to support the Shaheen-Collins substitute.

Thank you.

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