[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 117 (Wednesday, July 16, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1480]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      MEDICARE IMPROVEMENTS FOR PATIENTS AND PROVIDERS ACT OF 2008

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. SILVESTRE REYES

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 15, 2008

  Mr. REYES. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of overriding the 
President's veto of H.R. 6331, the Medicare Improvements for Patients 
and Providers Act.
  For the past several weeks, Congress has debated an issue that should 
not be considered controversial--health care for our Nation's seniors. 
This important piece of legislation addresses impeding cuts to 
physicians' Medicare payment rates. The issue not only affects seniors 
in my district of El Paso, Texas, but also hurts access to health care 
for all El Pasoans.
  The most important issue to consider when discussing this bill is 
that the provisions not only stop the impeding 10.6 percent cut, but it 
ensures that seniors and people with disabilities can continue to see 
the doctors of their choice.
  It is also critical to understand that a cut to Medicare will have a 
significant impact on similar programs. For instance, these cuts would 
not only affect those covered by Medicare, but it would also threaten 
access to health care for military members and their families under the 
military health program, TRICARE. Physicians serving our troops also 
face the 10.6 percent cut due because TRICARE payments are directly 
tied to Medicare.
  Also, private insurance companies look to Medicare to base their 
physician reimbursement rates. Physicians in El Paso and across the 
Nation rely on reimbursement by Medicare and other health care 
insurance groups to cover health care services rendered when a patient 
does not pay the full cost of care. In a recent survey of Texas 
physicians, more than 60 percent stated they would be forced to stop 
seeing Medicare patients should their reimbursement rates be cut.
  H.R. 6331 is significant legislation that eliminates the cuts to 
Medicare payments for the remainder of 2008 and provides a 1.1 percent 
increase for 2009. The bill also extends and improves low-income 
assistance programs for Medicare beneficiaries. Finally, the bill 
protects seniors' access to therapy services.
  I am extremely disappointed at President Bush's obvious disregard for 
Congress and the people they represent by vetoing this critical 
legislative proposal. By doing so, the President has sent a clear 
message to seniors that he does not believe providing them with access 
to quality health care is a priority of his administration.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of overriding 
the veto and by doing so, support Medicare beneficiaries' ability to 
choose their physicians.

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