Washington, D.C. - Congressman Kevin Brady (R-The Woodlands) voted on Friday to reverse cuts in Medicare payments to doctors that would have taken effect January 1, 2007, without Congressional action.   If a scheduled 5% cut in reimbursement rates had gone through, doctors would have had to choose between continuing to serve their Medicare patients, or covering their expenses.  

 

"Seniors ought to be able to see doctors they know, and who know them. The formula that Medicare uses to calculate payment rates to doctors each year is flawed and unsustainable, and Congress must find ways to address this issue over the long-term.  But until we can do that, I am pleased we avoided this scheduled cut in doctor reimbursements."

 

"This legislation also includes other important health care provisions that benefit Medicare recipients.   For example, in 2007, patients will continue to have access to the physical, occupational, and speech language therapy services they need.   Without Congressional action, these services would have been significantly limited.  And beneficiaries will also get new access to vaccines administered by their health care provider.

 

"I am also pleased that providers of dialysis services to kidney patients, who have long been under-funded, will receive a much-need, if modest, increase in payment rates for their services in 2007.   

 

"Finally, the legislation contains important reporting mechanisms and quality control measures to help Medicare improve service to beneficiaries and accountability to taxpayers."