[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 174 (Wednesday, December 2, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1698]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      HONORING DR. LEN KLAY, M.D.

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MIKE THOMPSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 2, 2015

  Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. 
Len Klay for his leadership, commitment, and determination over a 
decade to update the Geographic Practice Cost Index (GPCI) system in 
California and abolish the flawed Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR).
  Medicare's GPCI system pays physicians based on the cost of providing 
care in their geographic region. However, since 1997, the Medicare 
geographic payment localities have not been updated, leading many 
Sonoma County physicians to be underpaid. This problem was exacerbated 
by concurrent flaws in the Medicare Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR).
  Since 2000, Dr. Klay has been a tireless advocate for GPCI and SGR 
reforms. His proposed changes would have updated payment localities for 
physicians, and improved access to high-quality care for all Sonoma 
County residents. Dr. Klay led a nationwide letter campaign, 
encouraging Congress to consider funding the proposed changes while 
writing articles to keep peers informed of his efforts. Those efforts 
ultimately paid off, as the geographic payment system has been updated 
and the SGR has been eliminated. Dr. Klay was essential to that 
progress.
  Leading by example, Dr. Klay continues to assist in surgery and 
volunteers his services for many local medical organizations. He has 
worked in the Santa Rosa, California area since 1971, and has been a 
member of the Sonoma County Medical Association (SCMA) and the 
California Medical Association (CMA) for 44 years. He has twice served 
as President of the SCMA and CMA, elected in 1987 and again in 2007, 
and previously served at the U.S. Army hospital in Frankfurt, Germany. 
As a civic role model, philanthropist, political activist, and medical 
professional, Dr. Klay's work has placed health care for all Sonoma 
County residents in safe hands.
  Mr. Speaker, it is appropriate at this time that we acknowledge Dr. 
Len Klay for his extraordinary work.

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