Heinrich Protects Seniors' Access To Doctors

Press Release

U.S. Representative Martin Heinrich voted to preserve seniors' access to their doctors by fixing the way Medicare pays physicians. H.R. 3961, the Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act, permanently fixes Medicare physician payment rates by repealing a 21% cut in payments to doctors scheduled to take place in January. Statutory "pay-as-you-go," or PAYGO, legislation was attached to the bill to ensure fiscal discipline and the ability to invest sustainably in our most valued priorities.

"With the passage of this bill, we are a step closer to comprehensive health insurance reform," said Heinrich. "The Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act ensures that our seniors have access to high-quality, affordable health care from the doctors they know and trust."

Rep. Heinrich is a strong proponent of reestablishing the statutory PAYGO requirements that helped turn deficits into surpluses during the 1990s under the Clinton Administration. Reinstating the budget discipline of PAYGO is based on the simple principle of paying for what we buy.

The Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act builds on the historic health insurance reform bill the House passed earlier this month, which extend the solvency of Medicare by five years, improve preventive and primary care for seniors, and close the prescription drug "doughnut hole" coverage gap.

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 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 passed the House by a vote of 243-183 and now moves to the Senate.

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