Today’s vote sends a clear message that Democrats and Republicans in the House can come together to act decisively to protect healthcare access for senior citizens and the disabled, preserve fairness for physicians and pharmacists, improve treatment for patients suffering from chronic conditions, and ensure quality care for rural seniors. This compromise bill accomplishes all of that, and it does so in a fiscally responsible way.  I urge the U.S. Senate to act quickly, and I hope the President will sign the legislation without delay.

H.R. 6331 will prevent a 10.6 percent pay cut to physicians, which is scheduled to take place on July 1, and will provide a 1.1 percent update in physician payments starting Jan. 1, 2009. The bill also includes important improvements for Medicare beneficiaries, including mental health parity, better preventive coverage, and enhanced low-income assistance.  In addition, it provides measures to ensure prompt insurance payment to pharmacies for prescription drugs, and a delay of a Medicaid regulation that will result in lower generic drug reimbursement to pharmacies.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 25th, 2008 at 12:36 pm and is filed under Politics .