Events over the August District Work Period
Congress suspended the consideration of legislative business on the floor of the House and Senate as of July 23. Congress will reconvene after Labor Day.
In addition to the Democratic and Republican conventions, the recess has been used to hold committee hearings on the 9-11 Commission report. Of particular interest, the House Committee on Government Reform, on which Representative Todd Platts serves, held hearings on the recommendations of the 9-11 Commission on August 3, 2004.
Here is the Rep. Platts’ opening statement: www.house.gov/apps/list/speech/pa19_platts/911.html.
Here is the exchange Rep. Platts and Commission members had regarding intelligence reform and public diplomacy: www.house.gov/apps/list/speech/pa19_platts/911testimony.html.
Lastly, more information on the hearings can be found by visiting the Committee’s website: http://reform.house.gov/.
Rep. Platts also used the August District Work Period to conduct a series of town hall meetings throughout the 19th Congressional District. Many constituents showed up at the various meetings held in Mechanicsburg, New Freedom, New Oxford, and Dover in order to share their views with the Congressman. If you did not get a chance to attend, stay tuned for the dates and locations of future town hall meetings.
When Congress reconvenes on September 7, a big push is anticipated to complete the legislative business of the 108th Congress. Items on the agenda include a possible overhaul of the intelligence community and various bills to fund the operations of the federal government during fiscal year 2005.
Lawmakers Advocate for Rehabilitation and Nursing Services
Representative Todd Platts joined a bipartisan group of colleagues, including Representatives Nita Lowey (NY-18) and Zach Wamp (TN-03), in sending a letter to the leadership of the House of Representatives on the reinstatement of a 1984 rule which would greatly limit the ability of health care facilities to receive funding for inpatient rehabilitation. The letter urges suspension of this rule until an independent analysis by medical professionals is conducted to better evaluate the potential impact of the rule on important health care services.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced its intent to reinstate the so-called “75% Rule,” which would require Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities (IRFs) to show that at least three-quarters of its rehabilitative services were used to treat one of ten listed conditions such as stroke, spinal cord injury, amputation, or brain injury. However, since the 75% Rule was originally established, advances in inpatient rehabilitation care have resulted in facilities successfully providing essential services to more and more patients with conditions not listed in the 1984 rule. “The Federal government’s IRF policies are critically important to the health and well-being of our constituents and they ought to reflect modern medicine,” the letter states. “Yet, for example, the final 75% Rule would substantially limit access to IRFs for those in need of knee and hip replacement therapy, rheumatoid arthritis care, and pulmonary disease treatment.”
In addition, Rep. Platts recently sent a letter to Secretary Tommy Thompson of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) urging the prompt completion of negotiations between CMS and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania over a long term care proposal submitted by the Commonwealth. These negotiations have been holding up a much-needed $344 million in funding for nursing homes in Pennsylvania. “In the absence of CMS approval, the Commonwealth will be forced to dramatically cut benefits this year and next, which will undoubtedly threaten the continued viability of nursing facilities across the state and reduce access to critical avenues of care for beneficiaries,” the letter states. “If legal or regulatory questions have arisen, I strongly encourage CMS to work with the Commonwealth to amend the proposal as submitted, or jointly craft a reasonable alternative, so as not to threaten the continuity of long term care services in the Commonwealth. While I appreciate the need for due diligence, time is also of the essence for Pennsylvania’s seniors.”
Web Page Highlights (www.house.gov/platts)
Summer 2004 Newsletter
The most recent Congressional Update newsletter can now be found on-line. You must have Adobe PDF to view this document.
New E-Mail Web Form
A new, easier-to-use web form has been added to the web site in order to allow constituents to e-mail Rep. Platts without having to navigate multiple screens.
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