NEWS RELEASE

Committee on Energy and Commerce
Rep. John D. Dingell, Chairman

DINGELL BLASTS SENATE REPUBLICANS’ EFFORT TO BLOCK MEDICARE BILL

Urges Colleagues to Join Bipartisan Push to Strengthen Medicare, Support Physicians and Patients

Washington, D.C. – Rep. John D. Dingell (D-MI ), Chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce and co-author of H.R. 6331, the “Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008,” issued the following statement after Senate Republicans blocked an effort to consider this legislation. H.R. 6331 would prevent the pending 10 percent payment reduction for physicians in Medicare, enhance Medicare preventive and mental health benefits, improve and extend programs for low-income Medicare beneficiaries, and extend expiring provisions for rural and other providers. On Tuesday, June 24, 2008, the House of Representatives approved H.R. 6331 by a veto-proof vote of 355 to 59.

“Republican Senators were wrong to block legislation that helps beneficiaries and doctors so that they could protect payments to the insurance companies that are scamming our seniors,” said Rep. John D. Dingell (D-MI), Chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce and co-author of H.R. 6331.

“This week, the House approved this bill with an overwhelming bipartisan vote. We came together in an effort to improve Medicare’s preventive and mental health benefits, help low-income beneficiaries and rural communities, and ensure that seniors and disabled Americans can continue to see the doctors they know and trust. It’s unfortunate that Senate Republicans have joined the Administration in looking out for insurance industry profits instead of patients. I urge Senate Republicans to reconsider their misguided position and join House leaders in our bipartisan effort to improve Medicare and support the program’s beneficiaries.”

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