Rep. Eshoo Votes to Help Doctors Who Treat Medicare Patients

Washington, D.C. - Rep. Anna G. Eshoo (D-Palo Alto) voted today to stabilize Medicare and prevent an imminent cut of 21% in payments to doctors, scheduled to take place in January. Unlike short-term patches to prevent reimbursement cuts to Medicare which Congress has traditionally passed, H.R. 3961, the Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act of 2009, will permanently reform physician payments in Medicare to ensure Medicare beneficiaries have access to the care they need.

"This bill is for the doctors who treat Medicare patients. It is our responsibility to reimburse doctors adequately for their services," Rep. Eshoo said. "With an aging baby-boomer population, more Americans will soon be on Medicare and we must ensure enough physicians are willing and able to care for them."

The bill repeals the current Medicare Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula and replaces it with a sustainable solution that ends the cycle of threats of ever-larger fee cuts and short-term patches. It updates how doctors are paid through Medicare, beginning in 2010, and implements fairer growth targets which will keep doctors' pay steady.

"With comprehensive healthcare reform on the horizon, it's our responsibility to ensure physicians are reimbursed appropriately and seniors receive the care they need and expect," Rep. Eshoo said. "I've heard from countless doctors in my District about how important this fix is. Doctors should not be expected to guess, year after year, how much Medicare will reimburse them for their services. This has led to too many seniors without a physician, which is untenable."

H.R. 3961 is supported by a range of organizations representing patients and doctors, including the Santa Cruz County Medical Society, the Santa Clara County Medical Association, the San Mateo County Medical Association, the American Medical Association, AARP, and the American College of Physicians.

H.R. 3961 passed the House by a vote of 243-183.

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