medicare reimbursements

Jeanne Shaheen speaking at a senior center: Photo Credit: PolitickerNH.comPORTSMOUTH-- U.S. Senate candidate Jeanne Shaheen (D-Madbury) accused U.S. Sen. John Sununu (R-Waterville Valley) of standing up for insurance companies after Sununu voted to uphold President Bush's veto of a recent Medicare bill. Sununu said Shaheen is "out of touch" and that he supported legislation that would have protected Medicare Advantage.

Yesterday the House and Senate overrode Bush's veto of a bill that would have cut Medicare reimbursements to doctors. The version passed by Congress instead will cut payments to insurance companies. In 1998 Congress approved a reduction in reimbursements to doctors as a way to reduce Medicare spending, a provision which went into effect on July 1. However, Congressional Democrats argued that seniors would have a harder time finding doctors if the cut was enacted. The bill will cut payments to companies that run the Medicare Advantage program, which affects over 8,000 Granite State seniors.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, July 09, 2008MEDIA CONTACT

Jamie Radice (202) 225-5456

Shea-Porter Applauds Senate Passage of Medicare Bill

Supports Seniors’ Right to Visit Their Own Doctors

Washington, DC – Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter today applauded the Senate for passing the Medicare Improvement for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (H.R. 6331). The bill was overwhelmingly passed by the House of Representatives on Tuesday, June 24, 2008 by a vote of 355 to 59. However, two days later, on June 26, it fell just one vote short of the 60 votes needed to advance in the Senate. Today, the Senate reconsidered and passed the bill by a vote of 69 to 30. It will now be sent to the President for his signature.

MEMORANDUM
For Immediate Release
July 7, 2008

For Immediate Release
June 30, 2008

(Manchester, NH) - John Sununu's deciding vote last week against stopping a 10% fee cut for doctors who treat patients under Medicare will take effect tomorrow, resulting in what the American Medical Association calls a "Medicare meltdown." [New York Times, 6/30/08] Last Friday, John Sununu voted with George Bush and cast the deciding vote against the reimbursement rate correction, which means many doctors will reduce the number of Medicare patients they see, making health care less accessible to over 40 million seniors who use the program.