04.15.15

Senate Clears Bipartisan Bill To Strengthen Medicare, Protect Seniors’ Access To Their Doctors

WASHINGTON, D.C.U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell issued the following statement regarding the passage of the SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act (the bill has already passed the House and now heads to the President for his signature):

“Instead of kicking this important Medicare payment issue down the road again, a strong bipartisan majority in Congress voted to finally solve the problem and ensure that seniors on Medicare don’t lose access to their doctors. It’s another reminder of a new Republican Congress that’s back to work. And while no bill will ever be perfect, this legislation is a sensible compromise with wide bipartisan support; we look forward to the President following through on his commitment to sign it.

“This overwhelming vote also clarified another important point. It reaffirmed the support of both parties for the long-standing bipartisan principle — also contained in this bill — that federal funds leaving the government should be subject to the bipartisan Hyde language that has applied to other federal funds for decades. The overwhelming majority of Americans who support the principles of Hyde should welcome the strong Democratic show of support.”

Related Issues: Health Care, Entitlement Reform