Kennedy Statement On Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act

Statement

When the House passed the Affordable Health Care for America Act on November 7, it was truly a historic moment in our nation's history. Last night, another critical milestone in the health reform effort was achieved with the release of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in the Senate. With real reform already passed in one chamber and poised for debate in the other, we are truly closer than ever to bringing quality, affordable health care to all Americans.

Today, the House of Representatives fulfilled another promise to the American people by passing the Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act. This legislation will prevent a 21 percent cut in Medicare physician payment rates scheduled for January 2010. This bill protects Rhode Island physicians from facing a 21 percent reimbursement cut in six weeks, and a forty percent cut over the next several years. Doing so helps to assure Medicare beneficiaries of access to their physicians, as well as beneficiaries whose physician payment rates are tied to Medicare, such as the members of the military and their families who utilize TRICARE. Additionally, I have long advocated for a permanent fix to the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula, rather than short-term patch fixes we have historically relied upon, and I am pleased to have supported this longer term solution for Rhode Island's physicians and seniors.

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