House Passes Bill to Ensure Continued Access to Doctors Through Medicare
November 19, 2009
“Had we not acted today, starting in January of next year, thousands in our community who rely on Medicare and TRICARE could be turned away from their doctors’ offices because the government would not reimburse their physicians for routine medical care,” Congressman Cohen said. “Passing this bill ensures that doctors will no longer have to worry about having the financial resources to see patients, and Medicare beneficiaries will have peace of mind knowing that they will continue to have access to health care. I urge the Senate to act quickly on this legislation so that President Obama can sign it into law.”
On Thursday, the House passed H.R. 3961, Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act, which would prevent a 21 percent cut in Medicare physician payment rates scheduled for January 2010.
Instead of temporarily overriding the cut as Congress has done six times before – the so-called “doc fix”-- H.R. 3961 will replace the broken Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula with a permanent, sustainable solution. Ultimately, the legislation protects access to physicians for Medicare beneficiaries and members of the military and their families since physician payment rates in TRICARE are tied to those used by Medicare.
The bill is supported by a wide range of organizations representing patients, doctors and other providers, including the American Medical Association, AARP, the Military Officers Association of America, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American College of Physicians, the American College of Surgeons, the Center for Medicare Advocacy, the Medicare Rights Center, and the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare.
In addition, H.R. 3961 includes the Statutory PAYGO Act of 2009, which Congressman Cohen voted to support on July 22, 2009. The “pay as you go” principle of budget discipline requires Congress to find a way to pay for any new spending -- outside of an economic crisis. The Statutory PAYGO Act would make that principle applicable to all new tax and spending policies, with only a few exceptions, such as Medicare payments.
________________________
Steven Broderick
Communications Director
Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9)
1005 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Direct: 202-226-7916
Main: 202-225-3265
steven.broderick@mail.house.gov
On Thursday, the House passed H.R. 3961, Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act, which would prevent a 21 percent cut in Medicare physician payment rates scheduled for January 2010.
Instead of temporarily overriding the cut as Congress has done six times before – the so-called “doc fix”-- H.R. 3961 will replace the broken Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula with a permanent, sustainable solution. Ultimately, the legislation protects access to physicians for Medicare beneficiaries and members of the military and their families since physician payment rates in TRICARE are tied to those used by Medicare.
The bill is supported by a wide range of organizations representing patients, doctors and other providers, including the American Medical Association, AARP, the Military Officers Association of America, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American College of Physicians, the American College of Surgeons, the Center for Medicare Advocacy, the Medicare Rights Center, and the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare.
In addition, H.R. 3961 includes the Statutory PAYGO Act of 2009, which Congressman Cohen voted to support on July 22, 2009. The “pay as you go” principle of budget discipline requires Congress to find a way to pay for any new spending -- outside of an economic crisis. The Statutory PAYGO Act would make that principle applicable to all new tax and spending policies, with only a few exceptions, such as Medicare payments.
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________________________
Steven Broderick
Communications Director
Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9)
1005 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Direct: 202-226-7916
Main: 202-225-3265
steven.broderick@mail.house.gov
Issues:Health Care