[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 4]
[Senate]
[Pages 4750-4751]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                            SGR LEGISLATION

  Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, I would like to take a few minutes to talk 
once again about the ongoing effort to replace the Medicare sustainable 
growth rate, or SGR, formula.
  As we know, SGR has been a problem pretty much since its inception. 
Members of both parties have grown tired of passing temporary SGR 
patches that have been cobbled together at the last minute behind 
closed doors. This constant, seemingly unending, cycle has only grown 
more tiresome as the years have gone by.
  That is why a little over 2 years ago a group of leaders from both 
the House and the Senate set out to fix this problem once and for all. 
I was part of this effort. I was joined on the Senate side by former 
Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus. Together, Senator Baucus and I 
worked with the leaders of the House Energy and Commerce and Ways and 
Means Committees to craft legislation that would repeal and replace SGR 
with an improved payment system that rewards quality, efficiency, and 
innovation.
  While many critics deemed our efforts a lost cause, we introduced our 
bill in late 2013 and got it reported out of the Finance Committee on a 
voice vote. That same legislation formed the basis of the SGR bill that 
passed overwhelmingly in the House with 392 votes at the end of March.
  Now the bill is before the Senate. It is my hope that we will act 
quickly to pass this bipartisan, bicameral legislation and send it to 
the President's desk as soon as possible.
  This SGR bill is historic for a number of reasons. First of all, it 
demonstrates what Congress is truly capable of when Members work 
together. While that type of cooperation used to be commonplace around 
here, it has in recent years been in short supply. The bill also 
represents a step forward in the effort to reform our Nation's 
entitlement programs. The bill contains bipartisan reforms to the 
Medicare program, and it is not limited to fixing the broken SGR 
system.
  To go along with the permanent SGR fix, the bill includes a 
meaningful downpayment on Medicare reform without any accompanying tax 
hikes. These reforms include a limitation on so-called Medigap first-
dollar coverage, more robust means testing for Medicare Parts B and D, 
and program integrity provisions that will strengthen Medicare's 
ability to fight fraud.
  I am aware that these are not transformative reforms and that much 
more work will be necessary to put Medicare--not to mention our other 
entitlement programs--on a more sustainable trajectory. However, any 
Senators who, like me, have been clamoring for entitlement reform 
should welcome these changes. After all, for years the idea of 
bipartisan Medicare reform seemed, at best, farfetched. President Obama 
and his allies here in Congress have stated repeatedly that, before 
they would consider changes to our safety net programs, Republicans 
would have to agree to massive tax hikes. But here we are, just one 
Senate vote away from enacting meaningful and bipartisan Medicare 
reforms into law.
  Of course, as I said last month before the House vote, this bill is 
not perfect. Anyone who is determined to vote no could likely dig 
through the bill and find a reason to do so. I have my own thoughts as 
to how I would like to improve the bill.
  But, let's be honest. While I have only been in the Senate for 38 
years or so, I don't remember voting on many perfect bills, 
particularly not on a subject matter this complex and under a divided 
government. So, while I understand the impulse of some who may want to 
hold out for a better, more ideal solution to the SGR problem, I think 
it would be a grave mistake to pass up this bipartisan opportunity we 
have before us now.
  As I see it, we have two options. We can hold out for a better bill, 
one that satisfies every demand and subject ourselves to many more 
years of the last-minute, time-consuming SGR patches that are loathed 
by everyone in Congress and everyone in the health care industry or we 
can pass the bipartisan, bicameral bill we have before us now, fixing 
the SGR problem once and for all and setting the stage for future 
entitlement reform.
  It should be pretty clear where I stand. This is a good bill, and it 
is coming at the right time.
  I want to once again commend the leaders in the House from both 
parties who worked so hard to reach a deal on this legislation and to 
pass it with such an overwhelming consensus. I know it was not easy.
  It is now up to us here in the Senate. Let's get this done. I hope 
all of my

[[Page 4751]]

colleagues will join me in supporting the SGR bill.
  With that, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. NELSON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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