Congressman Tom Price (R-GA) issued the following statement today as the Democrats’ refusal to find fiscally responsible solutions led to a 21 percent cut in the reimbursement rate for physicians treating Medicare and TRICARE patients.

“These cuts will endanger many physicians’ ability to continue treating Medicare patients,” said Congressman Price. “The Democrat leadership even admitted that its refusal to stave off these cuts will cause ‘havoc in America.’ Why then, after playing a reckless game of chicken with Medicare reimbursement cuts all year long, have Democrats allowed this to happen? Current rates already do not cover the cost of treating Medicare patients in many cases. Due to the Democrats’ total lack of leadership, these rates are now 21 percent lower. If left in place, these cuts will have a terrible effect on patients’ access to the care they need.

“It’s time Washington stopped wreaking havoc on our health care system. We must enact a fiscally responsible and permanent fix to this untenable situation.”