Dr. Bucshon Applauds Senate Action on SGR Reform Bill

(WASHINGTON, DC) –Today, the United States Senate approved H.R. 2, the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act sending the bill to President Obama’s desk. H.R. 2 replaces Medicare’s flawed physician payment formula, the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) with bipartisan, bicameral reforms that help protect the Medicare promise. This unprecedented effort removes the imminent threat of draconian cuts to Medicare providers and moves Medicare away from a volume-based system towards one that rewards value, improving the quality of care for seniors.

Congressman Larry Bucshon, M.D. (IN-08) released the following statement regarding Senate passage of H.R. 2:

“The House led on an unprecedented victory for America’s seniors, children, and their families.  After years of flawed Medicare policy, we are finally creating a stable system that ensures Medicare patients will have access to their doctors while protecting the Medicare promise for future generations. With this bipartisan compromise we’ve demonstrated how Washington, D.C. can work together to improve the lives of the American people. As one of a small number of physicians in Congress, I’m happy to have played a part in putting an end to this flawed policy.

 

An important component of the bill repeals a policy that would have resulted in a dramatic increase in the out-of-pocket costs for seniors was included at the request of Bucshon and his democratic colleague from California and fellow physician, Congressman Ami Bera. This measure was maintained by the Senate.

 

As a physician and member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Dr. Bucshon played an integral role in crafting the legislation and helping gather support for it. 

Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI):

 

“We are saying goodbye to the SGR thanks, in large part, to the diligent efforts of Dr. Bucshon and his physician colleagues in the Doctor’s Caucus. They know better than anyone the importance of eliminating this repeated threat and establishing a fair and stable system for Medicare payments. We can all be proud of the bipartisan effort by the House today.” 

 

American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG):

“The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists thanks Rep. Bucshon for his leadership in supporting repeal of the Medicare Sustainable Growth Rate formula. As a physician, Rep. Bucshon understands first-hand the importance of predictable, adequate payment rates on the ability of America’s health care providers, including ob-gyns, to provide quality care to their patients. Repeal of SGR will help more physicians to sustain their practices and keep more Americans healthy,” said President of ACOG, John C. Jennings, M.D.

 

American Association of Neurological Surgeons and Congress of Neurological Surgeons:

“America’s neurosurgeons and their patients are extraordinarily grateful for the tireless efforts of Rep. Larry Bucshon to pass Medicare legislation that will preserve timely access to care for our nation’s seniors.”

H.R. 2 passed the House with a strong bipartisan vote of 392 to 37. A section by section analysis of the bill is available here.

 

BACKGROUND:

The SGR formula was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Clinton in 1997 to control Medicare spending. The flawed Medicare formula has proven over time to be ineffective and put seniors’ access to physicians at risk. The SGR policy flaws have compelled Congress to override the formula-driven cuts for more than a decade.  In fact, since 2003, Congress has spent nearly $170 billion in short-term patches to avoid these unsustainable cuts.  The most recent patch will expire on March 31, 2015.  H.R. 2 repeals the SGR, averting a 21 percent SGR-induced cut scheduled for April 1, 2015.

 

Congressman Larry Bucshon, a physician from Southern Indiana, is serving his third term in the U.S. House of Representatives. In the 114^th Congress, Bucshon will serve on the influential House Committee on Energy and Commerce.  The 8th District of Indiana includes all or parts of Clay, Crawford, Daviess, Dubois, Gibson, Greene, Knox, Martin, Owen, Parke, Perry, Pike, Posey, Spencer, Sullivan, Vanderburgh, Vermillion, Vigo, and Warrick counties.