[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 107 (Thursday, June 23, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S3155]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO KAREN FISHER

  Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, I am honored to recognize Karen Fisher for 
her decades of leadership toward innovation and systematic change to 
improve the health of Americans. Karen may be retiring from a momentous 
health policy career, but the Nation will long feel the positive impact 
of her work.
  From 2011 to 2016, the Senate Finance Committee was fortunate to 
benefit from Karen's expertise on the Medicare program and other key 
health policy issues. Serving as senior health counsel, Karen led the 
committee's work in 2015 to permanently repeal the outdated and flawed 
sustainable growth rate--SGR--formula previously used to determine 
Medicare physician payments and to replace it with a new payment system 
that advances value-based care for the millions who rely on the 
Medicare program as a lifeline.
  In addition to her historic role in permanently retiring the SGR, 
Karen oversaw legislative activities related to the Center for Medicare 
and Medicaid Innovation--CMMI--and the Patient-Centered Outcomes 
Research Institute--PCORI--as she uplifted the transformative effect 
alternative payment models could have in driving greater commitments to 
quality and value in healthcare. She also served--and continues to 
serve--as a mentor to early-career staff on the Committee and across 
Capitol Hill, offering professional guidance and networking 
opportunities for the next generation of female leaders.
  At the Association of American Medical Colleges--AAMC--Karen has 
continued her commitment to improve healthcare through public policy. 
Throughout her nearly 6 years as chief public policy officer, the AAMC 
has been an important voice on the need to expand access to healthcare 
nationwide by strengthening coverage through both the Affordable Care 
Act and the Medicaid program and by addressing shortages of physicians 
and other health professionals.
  Her more than 25 years of experience also have been an essential 
asset during the COVID pandemic, as she liaised between Federal 
policymakers and the academic medicine community to support the heroic 
efforts of the country's health professionals and scientists in 
treating patients, expanding access to telehealth, developing and 
administering COVID tests, advancing research on new countermeasures, 
developing and deploying vaccines, and enhancing health equity 
interventions.
  I know that I speak for health policy professionals nationwide as I 
express my gratitude for Karen's dedication, talent, mentorship, 
leadership, and persistence in public service and in betterment of the 
Nation's health.
  Thank you, Karen. I am wishing you and your family all the best for a 
very well-deserved retirement.

                          ____________________