House Acts Senate Punts on Medicare
Texas Insider Report: WASHINGTON DC As leader of the Health Subcommittee Ive been working hard to solve the growing national crisis of fewer local doctors being able to treat Medicare seniors because of the unfair way Medicare pays them. Last year I helped bring together Republicans and Democrats in the House and Senate - along with over 600 local health care groups - on a solution the first agreement in nearly 15 years.
This week the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved that solution along with common sense reforms that help save Medicare for the long term. And it was just in time as our local doctors faced an April 1 dramatic cut that would have likely forced more to turn away seniors for treatment or consider retiring early.
Going forward over time our doctors will not be paid by volume of treatments but by value - how high of quality care do they provide our seniors. They can focus on their patients and not looming annual cuts to Medicare. Thats great news both for retired Americans and for the future of our important Medicare program.
SENATE DOESNT ACT. Unfortunately the Senate left town for their Easter work period without acting. They should have stayed and got the job done. While I welcome the assurances the Senate will act when they return its honestly hard to find an adequate reason for them to leave town leaving our local Medicare seniors and doctors in yet another lurch or delaying the first real reforms to save Medicare for the long term.
Death Tax Repeal Moves Closer
I help lead the national effort to permanently repeal the Death Tax. This past week my legislation passed out of the Ways & Means Committee and is headed to the House floor for the first vote on repeal in 10 years. My House co-leader is Democratic Congressman Sanford Bishop of Georgia - an Eagle Scout Army veterans and key appropriator who asks a simple question: Why are we punishing success?
Watch our Capitol Hill news conference by clicking here.
The Death Tax is still the number one reason family-owned farms and businesses in America arent passed down to the next generation. Its the wrong tax at the wrong time and hurts the wrong people. After a family loses a loved one why should Uncle Sam swoop in and take much of the nest egg they spent a lifetime building? Families deserve better than to be forced to take out loans or sell their land or business just to try to keep some of what they worked so hard to earn. I hope youll lend me your support at #DeathTaxRepeal.
