Burgess Introduces Legislation to Provide One Year Extension for Medicare Physician Payment Rates
Posted by Whitney Thompson on July 20, 2012
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Washington
Burgess Introduces Legislation to Provide One Year Extension for Medicare Physician Payment Rates
“Allowing for a one year extension now will prove early to our seniors, physicians, and health care providers that they are at the forefront of our minds and our legislative agenda, and we will not leave them uncertain about how the upcoming “fiscal cliff” will impact their care.”

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (TX-26), Vice Chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Health and Chairman of the Congressional Health Care Caucus, has introduced H.R. 6142, the Assuring Medicare Stability and Access for Seniors Act of 2012. This legislation will provide a one year extension for Medicare physician payment rates to ensure continued access for Medicare beneficiaries and TRICARE recipients.

“By providing one more year of stability we make a critical, initial step towards ridding ourselves of this problematic and inadequate payment system,” said Dr. Burgess. “Allowing for a one year extension now will prove early to our seniors, physicians, and health care providers that they are at the forefront of our minds and our legislative agenda, and we will not leave them uncertain about how the upcoming “fiscal cliff” will impact their care.”

As numerous fiscal deadlines create a potential collision at the end of this year, kicking the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) provision of legislative relief down the road is dangerous. In order to guarantee a substantive, long term plan, guaranteeing proper services for Medicare beneficiaries, doctors need to first be provided with payment certainty for 2013.

“Despite Congress’ continual enactment of last minute legislation to prevent these cuts from going into effect over the last few years, eleventh-hour legislative maneuvers should no longer take the place of a stable and secure solution,” said Dr. Burgess. “I have never seen so much progress made on this issue than this year, but Congress must have more time to work with stakeholders on crafting a permanent replacement. While this legislation will provide a one year extension, Congress must continue to work towards a permanent fix that will solve the issue once and for all, and this bill provides that time.”

To download a copy of H.R. 6142 click here.


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Comments
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  • Lauri Smith from High Point, NC commented on 8/14/2012
    First and foremost, I want to thank you Mr. Burgess for your support and all of your hard work for us. Since Primatene Mist was removed from the pharmacy shelves, my life has changed dramatically. I no longer have a job, I cannot go to the store, I cannot go outside on days that are hot or too cold. I cannot even do mundane things like housework. I cannot afford healthcare and so Primatene Mist was my lifeline to the world. Having access to my inhaler was the only way I was able to have a normal life. I was a productive citizen and a fairly active person. However, without my inhaler I am a prisoner in my own home. Please, give us our lifeline back! I want my life back! Thank you for your time in reading this. Sincerely, Lauri Smith
  • Alecia from casper commented on 9/3/2012
    Thank you Mr. Burgess , we all are so glad you can be our voice. I have been using primatene mist since I was 13 now I'm 30. I have been on several prescribed medications from doctors that never worked for me. The newest is the hfa inhaled proair widget I use 20 times a day because it isn't working . I always had primatene mist to back up what the prescribed meds. couldn't do and that was to atomatically stop an asthma attack from happening. Never have I had a reaction to primatene mist but with the prescribed medications I now shake uncontrolably and still unable to breath .I no longer have that relief to breath comfortably with PM gone . I am also a mother of three who needs to be active but now I and many others can't do that do to the fda and epa. I use about 20 times a day more with my hfa with no relief in my asthma. Plus if I run out to early the pharmacy will not release a new inhaler till the amounted time.as if I needed more help not breathing. I need to be active I now have to avoid any physical activity with my kids wich is very upsetting to me and my family . I can no longer go to the gym to work out. I am extremely afraid with the colder weather creeping around the corner that something bad might happen. I just want my rescue inhaled back the one that actually worked in an emergency there isn't anything else that world for me. Thank you for taking your time out of your day to read this and for standing up for everyone like me. Sincerely Alecia from Wyoming.
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