Published: 06-17-08
Provite Protection for Beneficiaries Providers
WASHINGTON—U.S. Sen. John Cornyn R-Texas today spoke out on the Senate Floor urging his colleagues to put partisanship aside and take action to protect Medicare beneficiaries prevent premium increases and compensate providers fairly who are currently facing a significant reimbursement cut on July 1.
“Over three months ago in anticipation of the looming physician payment cut set for July 1st I introduced legislation that truly addressed the issue at hand—permanently. My legislation the Ensuring the Future Physician Workforce Act of 2008 eliminates the ineffectual expenditure cap and paves the way toward real health care reform innovation and restoration of the eroded physician-patient relationship. The underlying message of my legislation is that providers and beneficiaries should not be the ones who are punished by Congress’ inaction.
“Unfortunately my colleagues on the other side of the aisle missed a major opportunity to take these positive steps forward on a long-term solution. Instead Majority leaders have presented a short-term fix that bypassed the traditional committee review ignores bipartisan input and has no chance of becoming law. Knowingly presenting a bill that will not succeed is hardly the solution seniors on Medicare—who are facing reduced services and higher premiums—are expecting from Congress.
“Senate Republicans have proposed a compromise bill that offers solutions for doctors seniors and taxpayers. This bill will provide doctors with a positive increase extend critical programs reform payments to Medicare Advantage plans and implement many other necessary changes to the Medicare program. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to stop the political charades and take serious steps to reform Medicare and deliver real positive results to our nation’s Medicare beneficiaries and providers.”
As it stands physicians who offer Medicare are scheduled to have their reimbursement rates cut by more than 10 percent on July 1. This reduction which physicians face annually under a federally mandated cap is forcing many physicians in Texas and across the country to offer limited care or close their doors altogether to Medicare beneficiaries. According to a Texas Medical Association survey the percentage of physicians who accept all new Medicare patients has declined to a historic low.
Sen. Cornyn’s legislation the Ensuring the Future Physician Workforce Act of 2008 S.2729 would first prevent the payment cuts then eliminate the reimbursement cap and focus on securing a viable future generation of physicians to provide improved health care at lower costs for patients. The legislation would take several steps to improve the physician-patient relationship and help patients better evaluate the care they receive.
