Pelosi Statement on Passage of the Physician Payment and Therapy Relief Act

[ProSense]

Pelosi Statement on Passage of the Physician Payment and Therapy Relief Act

Washington, D.C. – Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement today after the House passed bipartisan legislation blocking the 23 percent cut in Medicare payments to doctors, scheduled for December 1, for one month, while a longer-term fix is negotiated. The Senate passed the bill on November 18, and it now goes to President Obama for his signature into law:

“Today, the House of Representatives acted to ensure that America’s seniors and military families can continue receiving the care they need and deserve from their doctors. This fully paid-for legislation provides doctors with the stability and support to continue providing vital services to all of their patients in the Medicare and TRICARE systems for the next month, while leaders from both parties work together on a longer-term solution before we adjourn.

“In taking this vote, Members of Congress have taken a clear stand on the side of seniors, service members, and the physicians and medical professionals who treat them.”

[jaxx]

1. For only a month. That is the sad part, they are forced to do this

time and time again.

[MissMarple]

2. They've been doing this since the late 90's. Tying the seniors to the military was a good move.

I wonder who did that. Anyhoo, the payments need to come into line with the, dare I say "free", market if this is going to fly. Doctors and clinics are closing their practices to new Medicare patients because of uncertainty of this going on every year as well as uncertainty about how the new health care laws will play out. No one seems to know. Containing costs shouldn't be about not paying for ambulance service and physician care. Primary care doctors and gerontologists are very low on the pay scale, that's why there are so few of them.

[Mimosa]

3. Sad how there's always enough money for wars, not enough for medical care.

Pelosi is a decent person.