AARP Disappointed by Senate's Vote to Block Protection of Access to Medicare Doctors

AARP Disappointed by Senate's Vote to Block Protection of Access to Medicare
Doctors

S. 1776 would have preserved access by replacing flawed payment system

ATTENTION NEWS DESKS: AARP is recording House and Senate roll call votes on
key issues throughout the 111th Congress, and informing its 40 million members
of the results of these key votes.

HARRISBURG, Pa., Oct. 21 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --

SUMMARY: Today the U.S. Senate blocked critical legislation to protect access
to doctors for the 44 million Americans who rely on Medicare. The Medicare
Physician Fairness Act (S. 1776) would have replaced today's broken doctor
payment system, which calls for a 21.5 percent cut in physician pay in
January. The bill failed to pass a key procedural vote in the Senate today.

PENNSYLVANIA VOTED YES TO MOVE DOCTOR VOTED TO BLOCK DEBATE ON
ACCESS BILL TO DEBATE AND DOCTOR ACCESS BILL
VOTE
------------ -------------------------- ------------------------
Casey, Robert X
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Specter, Arlen X
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"While we are disappointed by today's outcome, we applaud Senators Casey and
Specter for voting to preserve access to doctors in Medicare and bring this
bill to the floor for an up-or-down vote," said Richard Chevrefils, AARP
Pennsylvania State Director. "This critical legislation would have helped the
millions of older Americans in Medicare have access to the doctor of their
choice by replacing the flawed doctor payment system. We look forward to
continuing to work with Senators Casey and Specter and their colleagues to
pass health care reform that protects Medicare and ensures older Americans can
afford quality health care."

AARP strongly supports the Medicare Physician Fairness Act, introduced by Sen.
Debbie Stabenow (D-MI). This legislation permanently repeals Medicare's
flawed Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) physician payment formula, which has
required repeated Congressional action to prevent unwarranted cuts that could
harm access to doctors for people in Medicare. Repealing the SGR will stop an
unprecedented 21.5 percent pay cut that otherwise will occur in January 2010,
and additional cuts in future years.

AARP notified the 111th Congress that it was tracking roll call votes on key
legislation important to its 40 million members and reporting the outcomes of
these votes back to its members. "We believe people make the right choices
when they understand the issues and position taken by their elected officials.
AARP intends to ensure that its members get that information," Chevrefils
concluded.

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that helps people 50+
have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and
affordable to them and society as a whole. AARP does not endorse candidates
for public office or make contributions to either political campaigns or
candidates. We produce AARP The Magazine, the definitive voice for 50+
Americans and the world's largest-circulation magazine with over 35.5 million
readers; AARP Bulletin, the go-to news source for AARP's 40 million members
and Americans 50+; AARP Segunda Juventud, the only bilingual U.S. publication
dedicated exclusively to the 50+ Hispanic community; and our website,
AARP.org. AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security,
protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from
thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. We have staffed offices in all
50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

CONTACT: Steve Gardner, AARP Pennsylvania, +1-717-237-6481 or
sgardner@aarp.org

SOURCE AARP Pennsylvania

Steve Gardner, AARP Pennsylvania, +1-717-237-6481 or sgardner@aarp.org