DEMOCRATS' MEDICARE STRATEGY PUTS MILLIONS OF SENIORS AT RISK

Currently, the Senate is considering legislation that would prevent physicians who treat Medicare patients from facing a 10-percent cut in their reimbursement on June 30. America’s seniors, who depend on Medicare, cannot afford for their doctors to take such a significant cut that will undoubtedly lead to decreased access to health care. Both Republicans and Democrats are committed to saving seniors from this catastrophe, and both sides have introduced legislation that increases physician reimbursement under Medicare. But once again, Democrats see this as opportunity to put politics ahead of the best interest of the country. Democrats have used this debate as a vehicle to highlight their opposition to Medicare Advantage (MA) plans. In order to pay for their bill, the Democrats have slashed payments to MA plans, and in response, President Bush has indicated that he will veto the legislation. Not only does the Democrat strategy put doctors at risk, it puts the benefits of more than 10 million seniors and disabled Americans at risk. Furthermore, the Democrat legislation includes provisions that will directly increase the financial strain on taxpayers’ wallets by expanding benefits, reducing cost sharing and expanding eligibility for certain benefits and services. And in some cases, it seeks to hide the true costs of these changes by delaying their full effect to outside of the budget window or assuming unrealistic reductions to physician payments. This is completely irresponsible, especially at a time when the Medicare Trust Fund will be completely depleted in 10 years. Republicans have not only put forward a bill that will save physicians from dangerous cuts in reimbursement and preserve access to health care for Medicare beneficiaries, but it also improves the quality of care in Medicare by increasing the physician quality reporting bonus from 1.5 to 2 percent for 2009 and 2010, it also retains the Physician Assistance and Quality Improvement (PAQI) fund to specifically help avert future physician cuts while promoting value-based purchasing, e-prescribing and electronic health records. The most important point that needs to be stressed is that the Republican bill will be signed into law. The bill that Democrats want to proceed to -- if it somehow were to make it to the president's desk -- will be vetoed. We must not waste any more time. America’s seniors deserve better.

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