Congressman Tom Price, M.D. (GA-06) issued the following statement after the House of Representatives passed H.R. 4015, the SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act of 2014 -- legislation to reform the Medicare payment system. To cover the costs associated with a repeal of the current sustainable growth rate formula, the solution advanced by the House delays the implementation of the Obamacare individual mandate.
"Today's vote has been a long-time coming in our concerted effort to close the door on years of uncertainty for seniors and physicians while modernizing our Medicare payment system," said Congressman Price. "There is strong bipartisan support for repealing Medicare's sustainable growth rate formula, and the proposal that passed the House of Representatives today would ensure we are doing so in a fiscally responsible manner. The onus is now on the Senate Democrat majority to either support this bill or offer a credible plan of their own that protects seniors and respects taxpayers.
"The same folks in Congress and the White House who are denouncing the manner in which the House has offered to cover the costs of this legislation have either endorsed or, at the very least, tacitly supported the Obama Administration's decision to unilaterally enact what is in effect a delay to the individual mandate for three years. All that we are saying is let's extend that delay for another two years, and let's do it legally as opposed to doing it by fiat. There's no reason the Obama Administration should not be working with Congress, rather than around it, to delay this mandate -- particularly when it has already admitted the law isn't working as promised.
"The arguments against today's legislation lack credibility. It's time to act on behalf of seniors. The ball is in the Senate's court."