Medicare and Medicaid Extenders Act of 2010

Floor Speech

* Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Medicare and Medicaid Extenders Act of 2010. This legislation would reverse a scheduled reduction of 25 percent in Medicare physician payments and extend current Medicare payment rates through December 31, 2011.

* Though we are providing a year-long reprieve on the Medicare physician reimbursement problem, my strong preference is for this to be fixed on a permanent, long-term basis. Unfortunately, the Senate blocked legislation that was passed in the House that would have done exactly that.

* This legislation is needed so that Medicare beneficiaries are able to continue to have access to the care they need and to see their doctor of choice. It will also provide some stability for physicians that provide services to Medicare beneficiaries so that they and their practices can adequately plan for the expenses they incur in treating patients.

* In addition to extending current Medicare physician payment rates for 1 year, the legislation includes extensions of important expiring health care provisions, including extending the Medicare therapy caps process, Transitional Medical Assistance which allows low-income families to maintain Medicaid coverage as they transition into employment, and the Qualifying Individual program that allows Medicaid to pay the Medicare Part B premiums for low-income Medicare beneficiaries.

* I am also pleased that the legislation extends for 2 years the Special Diabetes Program for Type I Diabetes and the Special Diabetes Programs for Native Americans. Though the Special Diabetes Program doesn't expire until the end of 2011, early reauthorization is vital so that NIH can continue existing research projects. Otherwise, NIH would have to shut down those projects and the potential to develop new treatments for Type I Diabetes would be lost.

* Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

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