Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act Of 2009

Floor Speech

* Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3961, the Medicare Physician ``Payment Reform Act. We recently made history when we passed H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act and now we must pass H.R. 3961 to guarantee access to physician-provided benefits in Medicare.

* As we work to overhaul our flawed system to improve health security for all Americans, we must fix policies that consistently threaten to reduce access to care for seniors and people with disabilities. H.R. 3962 makes substantive improvements to the Medicare program. We lower Medicare drug costs, eliminate cost sharing for preventive services, and strengthen federal oversight on deceptive marketing practices in the Medicare Advantage program. Unfortunately, unless we act, Medicare physicians will face a 21 percent rate cut in less than 2 months. So, too, will physicians serving military members, retiree and families in TRICARE, where rates are linked to Medicare payments.

* We need to fix that problem and create a new payment system that will fairly and adequately reimburse doctors. Time and again we have shied away from permanently fixing the Medicare payment system. This is a time for big ideas and bold health care changes. The time to act is now. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3961.

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