House Passes Bill to Prevent Cut in Reimbursements to Medicare Providers

HOUSE PASSES BILL TO PREVENT CUT IN REIMBURSEMENTS TO MEDICARE PROVIDERS

Washington, D.C.–U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) delivered the following statement on this House floor this morning in support of H.R. 6331, the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act, which passed by a vote of 355 to 59. H.R. 6331 would prevent the 10.6 percent cuts in Medicare payments to physicians and provide a 1.1 percent increase in payments in 2009. The bill would also take steps to improve Medicare benefits for seniors and individuals living with disabilities by increasing access to mental health services and postponing the enactment of a program to competitively bid durable medical equipment.

"Last year we passed the CHAMP bill to prevent a 10.6% cut in payments to Medicare providers and to make critical improvements, and today we're trying again.

This bill would prevent physician payment cuts in 2008 and provide an increase in 2009. And something of particular concern to me -- it would address the cuts to mental health providers that have already taken place.

While we need to do more, we have to act now. There are many, many reasons to support the passage of this bill. It provides mental health parity; it expands access to low-income assistance for seniors and people with disabilities struggling to pay their healthcare costs.

It extends the moratorium on physical therapy caps; it eliminates cuts to oxygen treatment and wheelchairs. It postpones competitive bidding for durable medical equipment. On the diabetes front, it includes a 2-year reauthorization of the special diabetes program, and includes prompt-pay requirements for pharmacies — and on and on.

If you think it's more important to continue excess payments to private Medicare Advantage plans — plans that are getting 13% more than Medicare — you should vote no.

In 2008 this meant that Medicare Advantage plans saw a 6% increase, while physicians were scheduled for a 10.6% cut. Next year, Medicare Advantage Plans will see between a five and seven percent increase while physicians are scheduled for a 5% cut.

But if you think it's more important to provide Medicare cuts to physicians and providers, and to help senior citizens and persons with disabilities, then you will vote yes.

I hope that all my colleagues on both sides of the aisle will make the right choice. I hope you'll side with Medicare physicians and their patients and pass HR 6331....