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More than 80 million Americans rely on their local physicians for vital Medicare services. The quality and accessibility of healthcare is so important to our seniors. Now is the time to encourage doctors to see new Medicare patients, not discourage them.
The Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006 passed both House and Senate with my strong support at the end of the 109th Congress. This bill reverses the projected 5.1 percent cut for 2007 to make sure that Medicare physicians are adequately reimbursed. It was signed into law by the President on December 20, 2006.
Over the years, I have cosponsored bills to eliminate the SGR payment system and replace it with a new annual formula to accurately reflect cost increases. I also supported bills that would give physicians a payment increase this year by at least 2.7 percent once the SGR formula is replaced. It is critical that there are enough doctors to provide care for our nation's seniors and I will continue to strongly support our physicians by working with my colleagues in Congress to address a permanent fix to the SGR formula.
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