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<home> -- <press releases> News from Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo House Passes H.R. 3961 - Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – November 19, 2009 – Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo today announced that the U.S. House of Representatives has passed H.R. 3961, the Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act. H.R. 3961 was introduced by Congressman John Dingell of Michigan and was passed by a vote of 243 yeas to 183 nays. The Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act would prevent a 21% cut in Medicare physician payment rates originally scheduled for January 2010. The bill would also replace the Sustainable Growth Rate (SRG) formula used by Medicare, a formula also mirrored by TRICARE, with a permanent, more stable, formula. The bill is supported by a wide range of organizations representing patients, doctors and other providers, including the American Medical Association, AARP, the Military Officers Association of America, the National Association for Uniformed Services, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American College of Physicians, the American College of Surgeons, the Center for Medicare Advocacy, the Medicare Rights Center, and the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare. “H.R. 3961 would ensure that our seniors and TRICARE beneficiaries continue to have access to quality and affordable healthcare,” Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo said today. “This bill prevents a 21% cut to the Medicare physician payment rate that was set to take affect in January of 2010. The potential cut in reimbursement rates would have a negative impact on health services for Medicare and TRICARE beneficiaries. Instead, this bill would allow Medicare and TRICARE beneficiaries continued access to healthcare and replace the sustainable growth rate formula with a more stable solution. I am hopeful that the Senate will take action on this matter in the very near future.” # # # matthew.mateo@mail.house.gov or derek.mandell@mail.house.gov |
