Washington, DC—Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid made the following statement today, announcing that the Senate will vote on H.R. 6331, the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act, when the Senate returns from the July 4th recess.  Senate Republicans blocked a bill Thursday night that would prevent the impending 10.6 percent cut in payments to physicians who care for the 44 million American seniors in Medicare, and to make other key improvements to the program:

“Last night the Senate fell one vote short of getting the 60 votes needed to consider the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act.  Despite the fact that every Democratic Senator present voted to proceed, the vast majority of Senate Republicans voted in lockstep to block this important bipartisan legislation, even though it overwhelmingly passed the House earlier this week.

“After consultation with Chairman Baucus, I have decided that the Senate will again vote on the motion to proceed to this legislation shortly after we return from the July 4th recess.  Senate Republicans will be given another opportunity to reconsider their unfortunate decision to hurt patients and doctors.”

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