A Vote for America’s Seniors (Sen. Max Baucus)
July 8th, 2008
Sen. Baucus is chairman of the Senate Finance Committee.
America’s senior citizens have taken care of today’s generation. They educated and trained their children, fought for our freedom, and passed down the ideals we still value today. Now it is time for Senators to value seniors, by passing the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act as approved by the House of Representatives.
Unfortunately, some in the Senate blocked consideration of this bill before the July 4 recess, allowing steep cuts to physician reimbursements to go into effect. These cuts threaten seniors’ access to the health care they need. But the Medicare bill (H.R. 6331) will reverse the payment cuts to Medicare’s doctors, and more. It will improve care for low-income beneficiaries and seniors living in rural areas, and it will strengthen preventative and mental health care programs. It will also provide better care for patients with kidney disease, and improve pharmacy services. And, the bill includes important reforms to private Medicare plans to protect seniors from abusive marketing practices as well as save taxpayer dollars.
The strong support in the House for H.R. 6331 by both Democrats and Republicans — in a 355-59 vote — is a clear indication that the provisions in this bill soundly merit becoming law. The decisive House vote demonstrates that those blocking this bill in the Senate are jeopardizing seniors’ access and missing an opportunity to work together for America’s seniors.
This week, my colleagues in the Senate will have another opportunity to cast a vote for America’s seniors. The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act is solid legislation that does right by seniors and their providers. It is past time to ensure that every Medicare beneficiary gets the health care he or she needs and deserves. It is time now to pass the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act and see it signed into law.
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