Date: 2014-03-27
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I rise to speak in opposition to H.R. 4302. the socalled "Protecting Access to Medicare Act." which extends current Medicare physician reimbursement rates for one year. I strongly support providing adequate compensation to our physicians who serve Medicare patients. Medicare patients in every state make up 10% or more of those who have health insurance. I oppose H.R. 4302 because it does not provide a longterm fix for Medicare payments to physicians. and the misvalued services under the physician payment system has not been addressed. The core purpose of the bill is found in its name. the "Sustainable Growth Rate." but that purpose is not being met because the reimbursement rate to physicians is not sustainable for a robust medical care safety net for our nations seniors. CMS has made changes to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule and other Medicare payment policies to improve efficiency and accuracy in Medicare payment and the quality of care for our beneficiaries. CMS has improved payment for primary care services. while enhancing efforts to address payment for misvalued services under the physician payment system. CMS has begun to implement important delivery system reforms included in the Affordable Care Act. which includes the valuebased payment modifier that provides incentives for physicians and physician groups to furnish highquality. efficient care. Congress needs to do its part in implementing a reimbursement rate that reflects the reality of providing the care our nations seniors need and expect. Medicare patients and the medical payments made to their physicians and medical service providers is critical to our nations health care economy. It is important for our seniors to know that Medicare will be there when they need it. But it is equally important that there are physicians who are willing to attend to them without going broke. That is why we have a Sustainable Growth Rate or "SGR." Medicare reimbursement enables rural physicians and hospitals to remain open for business. This bill should not impose another round of arbitrary provider payment reductions to maintain a dysfunctional policy that many member of this House knows should be ended. This bill undermines the future passage of the framework that was part of the original bipartisan SGR bill that the House had the chance to vote on earlier this month. We should return to that bill and pass it without any gimmicks so that the modernization of the Medicare health care delivery and payment innovations that can strengthen the program can be implemented. Mr. Speaker. I have always strongly supported providing adequate compensation to our physicians who serve Medicare patients because it is important for our seniors to know that Medicare will be there when they need it. Thus. it is critical that we not disrupt timely and adequate payment to Medicare providers. The bill before us will provide payment certainty for one year. but only for one year. This is not acceptableif we do not press the issue of reform nowwhen will it be addressed? This is better than nothing but what must really be done to provide our seniors and physicians the certainty and security they deserve is to reach an agreement on a permanent replacement for the SGR that is fair. responsible. and fiscally sustainable. Instead of wasting time trying to repeal. impede. or undermine the Affordable Care Act. or making it more difficult for physicians who care for the elderly we should be working together to reach an agreement on a permanent replacement for the SGR and the $138 billion in offsets needed to pay for that legislation. That is what the American people sent us here to do.