Press Releases
Brendan Daly/Nadeam Elshami
202-226-7616
06/24/2008
Pelosi Statement on Strong Bipartisan Vote in the House for Medicare Improvements Act
Washington, D.C. -- Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement today on the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act, which passed the House this afternoon by a veto-proof margin of 355 to 59:
“Today’s bipartisan and veto-proof vote sends a strong signal that improving care for seniors and ensuring fair payment for providers will not be held hostage to the White House’s insistence on bloated, unnecessary subsidies for private health insurance plans that participate in Medicare.
“The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act is essential legislation that will enhance preventive and mental health benefits for our seniors. This critical bill will also strengthen care for rural Americans, and ensure that we maintain access to doctors who care for Medicare beneficiaries by making sure they are more fairly reimbursed for their work. That is why this bill enjoys the support of the American Medical Association, the National Council on Aging, the National Committee to protect Social Security and Medicare and groups all across the country.
“We are hopeful that the White House will remove its rigid, ideological objections to this bipartisan bill so that we can get about the job of improving Medicare for America’s seniors.”