April 03,2003

Grassley Schedules Field Hearing on Medicare Fairness for Iowa

Grassley Schedules Field Hearing on Medicare Fairness for Iowa

Event: Senate Committee on Finance, Field Hearing "A Fair Deal for Iowa: Fixing Medicare Reimbursement"
Date/Time: Monday, April 14, 2003, at 10:30 a.m.
Location: Iowa Historical Society, Auditorium -- Des Moines

Description: Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Committee on Finance, is working to change Medicare's flawed payment formulas for health providers, especially those that penalize low-cost states like Iowa that provide efficient, high quality care. Grassley is following through on a commitment he made last year to bring together policy experts and health care providers in Iowa to discuss the Medicare payment structure that disadvantages many rural states.

Grassley will convene the hearing to explore effective approaches to fixing the flawed Medicare formulas. Two panels will be involved in the hearing. The first panel will feature two national experts in Medicare payment policy who will offer their views on the current situation and discuss options for change. The second panel will feature four different perspectives from across Iowa on how Medicare
payment policy affects rural areas, with special emphasis on patient access to care, health care providers, the cost of health insurance to other payers, and local economies.

If time allows, the audience will have the opportunity to submit written questions to Sen. Grassley and/or the panelists.

-30-