REP. JENKINS: CONGRESS STRENGTHENS MEDICARE ACCESS FOR MILLIONS OF SENIORS

WASHINGTON – U.S. Representative Evan Jenkins (R-W.Va.) voted yes today on legislation strengthening Medicare for millions of seniors, ensuring that they continue to have access to doctors and quality health care. H.R. 2, the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act, passed the U.S. House of Representatives 392-37.

This bill would prevent implementation of the sustainable growth rate, a 21 percent reduction in Medicare reimbursements for physicians on March 31. If the SGR would be implemented, thousands of doctors nationwide would see drastic cuts in the Medicare reimbursement rate, risking access to care for our seniors. This bill instead would ensure continued access to care for seniors. The bill would also reauthorize the Children’s Health Insurance Program, which provides vital insurance care to millions of low-income children.

“Today’s vote is a victory for patient choice and access to care. Today I proudly voted to guarantee that our seniors are able to see doctors of their choice and have access to the health care they need. These cuts would hurt our seniors, our doctors, and risk the care that so many seniors need. The sustainable growth rate would cut payments to doctors drastically, making it unaffordable for some to continue seeing Medicare patients. I voted to repeal this burdensome, unworkable plan to preserve patients’ access to care and bring certainty to health care providers.

“This legislation also provides for medical insurance for millions of children. By reauthorizing the Children’s Health Insurance Program, these children will continue to have access to insurance and medical care. We also ensure that residents in rural areas will have access to health care by funding Community Health Centers, the Home Rural Health program, the National Health Service Corps, and Teaching Health Centers.

“This bill shows what we can do when we work together – we can provide access to quality care and health care choices for seniors, for children, and for rural Americans.”