Iowa Congressman Jim Nussle says a bill passed early this morning in a House Committee would provide extra money to Iowa hospitals that treat Medicare patients. He says they put in a provision that he says Iowa will enjoy across the state.In each of the next three years, up to 41-million more federal dollars will come Iowa’s way by giving a five percent bonus to hospitals in states, like Iowa, which have low Medicare reimbursement rates. Nussle and the other three Iowa Republicans in Congress have been criticized for recently voting to boost Medicare payments for hospitals in New York and Pennsylvania. Last night, Nussle offered an amendment that attaches his “bonus” proposal to the Medicaid bill.Nussle says under his plan, Iowa gets a better deal than the other states for the next three years. Nussle says the Bush Administration and republican leaders in Congress support his proposal.The “pro-Iowa” provision is included in a House Ways and Means Committee bill that, for the first time, would extend prescription drug benefits to the elderly who’re on Medicare.Nussle sits on the House Ways and Means Committee and is chairman of the House Budget Committee. A few weeks ago, Nussle, Greg Ganske, Jim Leach and Tom Latham voted for a Homeland Security bill which included a Medicaid bonus for some hospitals in New York and Pennsylvania.
