Hoyer Statement on House Republican Bill Undermining Bipartisan Proposal to Fix the Medicare Physician Payment Formula

Statement

House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) released the following statement today on House Republicans' amended H.R. 4015, which undercut a bipartisan agreement to fix the Medicare physician payment formula by adding a partisan provision to undermine the Affordable Care Act:

"After twice rejecting a motion by Rep. Jim McGovern earlier this week to allow a vote on a bill by Rep. John Tierney that would pay for the bipartisan fix to the Medicare physician payment formula by responsibly capping the Overseas Contingency Operations after 2016, House Republicans today turned what could have been a moment for progress and compromise into yet another exercise in partisan messaging. While their bill claims to address the formula by which Medicare reimburses doctors, it was, in fact, their 51st attempt to repeal or undermine the Affordable Care Act.

"I am disappointed that House Republicans continue to use their Majority to waste the American people's time on political bills that have no chance of being considered in the Senate or reaching the President's desk. It's time for them to stop their partisan games and instead work with Democrats to pass the bipartisan agreement to fix the Medicare physician payment formula without sabotaging it with legislative poison pills. Democrats are ready to work across the aisle to do what is necessary to address this important issue before the current physician payment formula expires on March 31."

Source