9290 Hon. Richard E. Neal Hon. Gwen Moore
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9290 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS, Vol. 153, Pt. 7 April 18, 2007 was involved in nearly every major project in a high risk beneficiary is entitled to a ing the Colon Cancer Screen for Life Act, we the immediate region. Among the projects he colonoscopy every two years. Despite this, re- will not only be able to save lives but we will worked upon, Mr. Campbell helped oversee: cent studies have shown that patients are not also be able to save money. According to the the Newberry Streetscape/Infrastructure utilizing coverage of CRC preventive American Cancer Society, 153,760 new cases Project; road improvements near Hessel Block screenings. According to the Government Ac- were diagnosed this year. Each of these Company and Maples Sawmill CDBG; countability Office (GAO), since the implemen- cases will cost Medicare between $35,000 and Tahquamenon Scenic Heritage Route Man- tation of the benefit in 1998, the percentage of $80,000 per patient to treat. For the bargain agement Plan; a study of I–75; Easterday Av- Medicare beneficiaries receiving either a price of a little over $200 dollars, we can stop enue Interstate Bridge Crossing Study; De- screening or a diagnostic colonoscopy has in- this cancer before it starts. Seems to me that Tour Village Water System Improvements; creased by only one percent. is not only the right thing to do, it is the smart Eastern Upper Peninsula Regional Solid A key reason for the low rate of thing to do. Waste Management Plan; Portage Township colonoscopy screening in the Medicare popu- I hope my Colleagues agree and will join Land Use Plan; the establishment of the Chip- lation is rapidly declining rates of reimburse- me and Representatives ENGLISH and TOWNS pewa County Industrial Park and Whitefish ment for the procedure. Medicare reimburse- in support of this important piece of legislation. Township Plan. ment for colonoscopies performed in the out- Madam Speaker, throughout his distin- patient setting has dropped by 33 percent f guished career of service, Mr. Campbell has from the initial 1998 levels. In many states IN TRIBUTE TO MR. HAZELLE established a reputation as a consensus build- today, Medicaid payment rates actually ex- ‘‘VON’’ HICKMAN er who can bring together different parties in ceed Medicare reimbursement for the community to achieve shared results. colonoscopy. Unless we reverse this trend to- Residents throughout the Eastern Upper Pe- ward declining reimbursement, physicians will HON. GWEN MOORE ninsula describe Mr. Campbell as a quiet, but no longer be able to offer colonoscopies to OF WISCONSIN determined planner who knows the specifics Medicare beneficiaries. This bill increases IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES of every project down to the last detail. Never Medicare reimbursement rates by 30 percent Wednesday, April 18, 2007 one to seek credit for a particular project, he for colonoscopies performed in an outpatient is known for his quiet demeanor, moving setting, and by 10 percent for procedures per- Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin. Madam Speak- projects along to completion, but always hum- formed in the physician’s office, to ensure that er, I rise today to recognize one of our na- bly sharing the acclaim with those around him. Medicare beneficiaries have access to these tion’s true pioneers, a man who has graced After over thirty years of service, Mr. Camp- lifesaving procedures. Moreover, increasing the United States with his bravery and service, bell is retiring. This weekend, residents of colonoscopy screening rates will generate sig- both as a Tuskegee Airman and an out- Chippewa County, Sault Ste. Marie and the nificant long-term savings for the Medicare standing citizen of Milwaukee where he re- Eastern Upper Peninsula will come together to program, in the form of foregone costs for sided for over 50 years. The man I am talking honor Mr. Campbell for his many years of costly colorectal cancer treatment. about, Mr. Hazelle ‘‘Von’’ Hickman died March labor on behalf of economic growth in the Medicare also does not currently pay for a 14, 2007. Mr. Hickman’s death came just two Upper Peninsula. As this humble, hardworking physician office visit prior to a screening weeks before the Tuskegee Airmen were be- man enters well-deserved retirement, I ask colonoscopy. Colonoscopy procedures involve latedly honored in Washington, D.C. with the that you, Madam Speaker, and the entire U.S. sedation, so physicians generally do not per- Congressional Medal of Honor, the highest House of Representatives join me in congratu- form them without an office visit prior to the honor that can be conferred by Congress on lating Mr. John Campbell and in wishing him procedure to obtain the patient’s medical his- March 29, 2007. and his wife, Geri, all the best for many years tory and to educate the patient about the Mr. Hickman enlisted in the Army Air Force to come. steps he or she needs to take in order to pre- in 1940. He became one of the Tuskegee Air- men specializing in weapons maintenance and f pare for the colonoscopy. A number of states actually require this pre-operative consultation. enemy aircraft plotting. The Tuskegee Airmen THE INTRODUCTION OF THE Medicare pays for this pre-operative visit when were a dedicated, determined group of young COLON CANCER SCREENING FOR a colonoscopy is being performed in order to men who fought many obstacles and extreme LIFE ACT diagnose a patient—but it does not pay for prejudice to become America’s first Black mili- such a visit prior to screening colonoscopies, tary airmen. Mr. Hickman was stationed in HON. RICHARD E. NEAL even though the procedure is the same and New Guinea and the Philippines. He received OF MASSACHUSETTS presents the same risks to the patient. This bill a Philippines Liberation Ribbon, American IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES fixes this discrepancy by providing Medicare Theater Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Cam- reimbursement for the office visit that takes paign Medal with 2 Bronze Stars, Good Con- Wednesday, April 18, 2007 place prior to the screening colonoscopy. duct Medal and a Citation from President Tru- Mr. NEAL of Massachusetts. Madam Speak- Finally, reducing financial requirements on man before his Honorable Discharge. er, I rise today in support of the Colon Cancer beneficiaries will encourage more people to Mr. Hickman received the JC Penney Gold- Screen for Life Act, which I am introducing take advantage of this preventive benefit. It en Rule Award in recognition of outstanding along with Congressman PHIL ENGLISH (R–PA) was with this intent that Congress agreed to volunteer service, was a leader in his neigh- and Congressman ED TOWNS (D–NY). Accord- waive the Part B deductible as part of the Def- borhood block watch, and was active in local ing to the American Cancer Society, this year icit Reduction Act of 2005. Unfortunately, politics. He was blessed with an outstanding alone, 52,180 Americans will die from colon since that time, CMS has misinterpreted this singing voice and was a member of the Senior cancer. In my own state of Massachusetts, provision of law, claiming that the deductible is Choir at Shiloah Evangelical Lutheran Church 1,180 people will lose their life to this deadly only waived if the beneficiary has a ‘‘clean’’ and was the first African American member of disease. What makes statistics such as these screening, but maintaining that the deductible the Pabst Choir. all the more tragic is that unlike other forms of still applies if the screening results in taking a Mr. Hickman was born in Inverness, Mis- cancer, colorectal cancer is highly detectable biopsy or if a cancerous or pre-cancerous sissippi, on February 14, 1920. After com- and even treatable if it is caught early through polyp. Under this nonsensical policy, a bene- pleting military service, Mr. Hickman moved to a colonoscopy screening examination. ficiary is left not knowing whether or not the Milwaukee in 1946. He worked for Pabst Recognizing the importance of early inter- deductible is waived until after the screening. Brewery and retired after a 30 year tenure. Mr. vention, Congress acted to provide Medicare Those whose ability to pay is limited are there- Hickman met and married his wife of 60 years, coverage for colorectal cancer screening fore simply choosing not to take the risk. This Minnie (nee Prince) in Milwaukee. He is sur- (CRC) through colonoscopy in the Balanced bill would require that the deductible be vived by his daughter, Gina Hickman, and Budget Act of 1997 and further expanded in waived for all screenings, regardless of the sons Craig Hickman and Jop Blom and many 2000 when the colonoscopy benefit was outcome. relatives and friends. I am honored to have added for high risk beneficiaries. Under this Madam Speaker, as the old saying goes, this opportunity to pay tribute to Mr. Hickman benefit, a low risk beneficiary is entitled to re- ‘‘an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of for his singular courage and unwavering com- ceive a colonoscopy once every ten years and cure.’’ This bill embodies this wisdom. In pass- mitment to our country and to Milwaukee. VerDate Nov 24 2008 11:25 Apr 12, 2010 Jkt 059102 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 0689 Sfmt 9920 E:\BR07\E18AP7.000 E18AP7 rmajette on DSK29S0YB1PROD with BOUND RECORD April 18, 2007 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS, Vol. 153, Pt. 7 9291 DENY VISA TO HUN SEN’S ings’’—is a gross insult not only to the people commitment to making his beloved state of Ar- HENCHMAN of Cambodia but also the people of America. kansas a better place to live was evident in I believe the State Department and FBI must everything he did.