Meehan: Landmark Medicare Vote

Press Release

The House of Representatives today passed major bipartisan Medicare reform legislation that protects access to health care for seniors by permanently repealing its flawed physician payment formula. The formula, called the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR), was created in 1997 as a well-intentioned but flawed means of limiting spending on Medicare. Since then, Congress has acted 17 times to temporarily put off SGR's payment cuts -- cuts that would jeopardize access to health care for seniors.

Congressman Patrick Meehan, a member of the House Committee on Ways and Means, issued the following statement after today's vote:

"The SGR's cuts would severely limit access to lifesaving medical care for seniors," said Congressman Meehan. "After 17 short-term patches to avert draconian, double-digit cuts in physician payments, Democrats and Republicans have come together to fix the broken SGR system permanently. This isn't just good for seniors' care and our health care workforce. It's a sign partisan differences in Washington can be bridged to address our biggest challenges."

"This bill also extends and strengthens the Children's Health Insurance Program for another two years -- a critical component of our health care safety net for low-income families. It also preserves important funding for community health centers that serve the most vulnerable," Meehan continued. "It is my hope that the Senate will pass this measure quickly and send it to the President's desk."

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