Cramer Statement on Passage of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act

Today, Congressman Kevin Cramer made the following comments after the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed H.R. 2, the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act by a vote of 392 - 37. The Act repeals the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula caps on aggregate spending on services for seniors. Exceeding the outdated cap resulted in mandatory cuts to physician payments in subsequent years. The formula was passed into law in the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 to control physician spending, but it failed to work. Since 2003, Congress has spent nearly $170 billion in short-term patches to avoid unsustainable cuts imposed by the flawed SGR. The most recent patch is set to expire on March 31st.

"These bi-partisan reforms ensure seniors continue to receive the highest care possible. By fully repealing the Sustainable Growth Rate, we create a new system to incentivize quality while returning stability to Medicare physician payments. If we do nothing, doctors will stop seeing Medicare patients, harming many North Dakotans. Passage of this legislation, marks the first meaningful entitlement spending reform in nearly two decades. These reforms ensure Medicare remains viable for generations. President Obama has stated he will sign the legislation and I look forward to its quick consideration and passage in the US Senate," said Cramer.

Source