Pingree Votes to Ensure Seniors and Military Families Can Continue to See Their Doctors

Press Release

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree announced today that the House has passed a critical fix stopping a 25 percent cut to doctors' Medicare reimbursements that would have taken effect in January. She voted in favor of the legislation, which passed 409-2 and now goes to the President for his signature.

"Passing this legislation is absolutely critical to protecting our seniors' and military families' access to their doctors," said Pingree. "If these cuts went forward, it would have a dramatic effect on the number of healthcare providers who participate in Medicare. I hope this news brings some relief to the thousands of Maine families who have been very concerned about this issue."

The legislation blocks a scheduled 25 percent cut in Medicare and Tricare payments to doctors for 2011. The Senate passed the legislation yesterday.

Pingree has voted in support of a permanent fix for the Medicare payment system, which passed the House passed in November 2009 but has been blocked in the Senate.

"I think it's terrible that we've been putting seniors and families through this over the last couple of years. For the last few months, they've had to wonder whether their doctors would be there for them," said Pingree. "Congress has a responsibility to pass a permanent fix for this problem and I certainly hope we can before people have to deal with this uncertainty again next year."

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