BREMEN -- Tom Roggeman sweated through the 1950s as an offensive lineman for the Chicago Bears, doing his utmost to hammer his opponents into the turf.

That was tough. But the 75-year-old says his current fight -- regaining his strength after major back surgery -- is even tougher. And on Wednesday, he told U.S. Rep. Joe Donnelly, D-2nd District, it was a fight he'd be in danger of losing if not for his admission into the rehabilitation program at Doctor's Hospital in Bremen.

"There are eight screws and two rods in my back now," he said, shaking Donnelly's hand. "But the people here are all so positive you are going to get well."

It is cases like Roggeman's that were a big part of Donnelly's visit to the intensive rehabilitation facility Wednesday, as doctors and hospital officials took some time to express concerns about legislation they feel compromises their ability to provide care to patients.

Doctor's Hospital CEO Cameron Gilbert said that an issue of particular concern is the so-called "75 percent rule," which is slated to go into effect in 2008.Under the rule, hospitals that receive funding through Medicaid and Medicare must make sure at least 75 percent of their patients conform to a strict set of guidelines that exclude many of the ailments experienced by patients at the small facility.

"Under those guidelines, (Roggeman) would probably not be eligible for treatment," he said. "This legislation takes patient care decisions out of the hands of doctors and puts them in the hands of bureaucrats."

Currently, hospitals that receive the federal money must maintain a 60 percent ration of cases meeting the guidelines, and there is a resolution currently before Congress that could maintain the requirement at that level instead of pushing it to the 75 percent rule next year.

But if Gilbert could make the decision, the requirement would be removed completely.

"We could give you a list of patients we have had to deny care to because of this rule," he said.To illustrate the needs filled by facilities like Doctor's Hospital, Donnelly was treated to a full tour of the facility, which is located in the building formerly occupied by Community Hospital of Bremen.

Along the way, the congressman chatted with staffers, administrators and patients like South Bend resident Michelle Morrow-Price, who is undergoing intensive physical therapy at the hospital, and said she is appreciative of the level of care she receives.

"The team here is great," she said. "They work with you and they pay attention to you."

Donnelly turned his attention to members of that team during an informal meeting after the tour with area doctors who said they are concerned about constraints like the 75 percent rule, which they say threatens the ability of small specialty hospitals to provide care to patients who need it.

"When I send a patient to a rehabilitation facility, they get the care they need to go home," Dr. John Graham, an Osceola orthopedic surgeon, said. "But if I don't have that option, and we have to send them a nursing facility, they may not regain that independence."It's not the same type of care," he said.

Dr. Scott Recker, who works at Doctor's Hospital, agreed that he felt strongly that physicians should not face constraints like the 75 percent rule.

"I take great pride in my ability to determine the level of care a patient needs," he said. "The way the system works now, I don't get to make that call."

Before leaving the hospital, Donnelly said he welcomed the input.

"My job is to determine what we need to do to ensure the best level of care for the people who live in my district, and to be a good partner to the people who work to provide that care," he said. "And when I learn more about their concerns, I can do that job better."