Bera Applauds Senate Passage of SGR Reform

Statement

The Senate last night overwhelmingly passed legislation to restore certainty to our seniors and to Medicare physicians, and to end the more than decade-long cycle of "doc fix" patches, by repealing and reforming the flawed Medicare payment system known as the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR). The bill passed by a vote of 92 to 8.

Congressman Ami Bera, M.D., one of a handful of doctors in Congress who fought for this legislation, made the following statement:

"As a doctor who's cared for many seniors who rely on Medicare, I know how big this victory is for both America's seniors and for generations to come. After years of gridlock and 17 short-term patches over the last decade, I'm proud we've found a bipartisan solution to replace the broken SGR formula, giving seniors access to the care they need and improving how we deliver health care through Medicare. Under the new system, we're keeping the promise we've made to our parents and grandparents: seniors will get better, more patient-centered care while at the same time costs will be lower and Medicare will be strengthened for the long term. This is a great, bipartisan achievement, and it shows what Congress can accomplish when we put politics aside and do what's best for the American people."

Source