Lois Capps: “We are assuming the Senate bill will have some play in the discussion that is perhaps going on in the conference…”

“We are assuming the Senate bill will have some play in the discussion that is perhaps going on in the conference committee at the moment, and that is where we would urge the attention of the conferees to be put, that there is funding that has been set aside in the Senate bill that would make quite a difference in Medicare providers being able to stay, particularly in rural areas to continue to deliver the service. I have seen the statement of the AMA and the osteopaths on this motion to instruct, and I need to say clearly for the Record that these letters do not describe correctly my motion to instruct. My motion to instruct supports the AMA position on physician fees. This motion explicitly supports the provision in the House bill that provides immediate assistance to doctors. In no way does it delay or support a delay in fixing the physician fee problem. Despite what the AMA and other groups have said, this motion does not delay permanent actions on fixing the sustainable growth rate. This motion does not address a long-term fix, but neither does the House bill. The reason the House bill does not have a long-term fix is because it is very expensive. My motion would prevent the conference from spending money on risky privatization schemes when that money should be used to help finance a long-term solution to the physician fee problem. I believe the AMA must have been reading a different motion. Their statement says we are taking money from patients to give it to physicians.”