(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.

Indianapolis – Governor Mike Pence today accepted the resignation of his Communications Director, Christy Denault. Denault, who has an eight-year-old and triplets who are six, is departing the Pence Administration to spend more time with her family. Prior to her role in the Pence Administration, she served on the Governor’s campaign and worked for Lt. Governor Becky Skillman, in addition to communications roles in the private sector and higher education.

“Since day one, Christy Denault has served this administration with selfless dedication and professionalism,” said Governor Pence. “Christy set a standard for communicating Indiana’s success with integrity and she will be sorely missed. I will always be grateful for her service and wish her every blessing as she takes time to focus on her family following this season of service to the people of Indiana.”

In her letter of resignation, which can be found attached, Denault thanked the governor for the opportunity to serve Indiana as part of the Pence Administration. Denault will remain on staff until May 22 to allow time for a replacement to be hired.

Vanderburgh County Democratic Chairman Rob Faulkner today took issue with Mayor
Lloyd Winnecke’s silence on the City Council’s passage of a resolution opposing the controversial
Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA).
He suggested the upcoming visit to Evansville by a key RFRA proponent might be motivating the Mayor.
The Council Monday approved the resolution 9-0, taking a strong stand against the controversial
measure that was pushed through the Indiana General Assembly by Winnecke’s fellow Republicans.
“A day after the council spoke with a unanimous voice, the Mayor hasn’t been heard from,” Faulkner
said.
He pointed out that Section 4 of the resolution reads, “The Mayor is invited to join in this resolution by
affixing his signature hereto.”
Winnecke has given no public indication of whether he intends to join in the resolution, which the city
clerk is directed to send to the Governor, Speaker of the House, President Pro Tempore of the Senate,
Assembly members representing Southern Indiana, and other legislative leaders as deemed appropriate.
Faulkner tied Winnecke’s hands-off posture on the resolution to the planned visit to Evansville by
Republican House Speaker Brian Bosma on April 22.
“It might be that Winnecke wants to avoid a lot of discomfort when Bosma comes to town to share the
stage with him at the Lincoln Day Dinner,” Faulkner said. “It appears he is siding with Bosma rather than
taking a stand to protect all the citizens of Evansville from discrimination.”