Max Baucus: “on Tuesday, the House passed the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act, and I urge the Senate to take up…”

“on Tuesday, the House passed the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act, and I urge the Senate to take up and pass this bill tonight. The House passed the bill with an overwhelming vote, 355 to 59. That is a 6-to-1 ratio. Even among Republican Members of the House, more than twice as many Republicans voted for the bill as against it. The Senate should take up and pass this Medicare bill not just because the House passed it with 355 votes, but, rather, because it is the right thing to do. The Senate should pass this Medicare bill because time is running out. I understand the House is going to adjourn today. I think they have cast their last vote. If we don't act soon, the law cuts payments to doctors by 10 percent on July 1. We have to stop that cut. That cut threatens access to care for America's seniors. Already, some providers are declining Medicare patients. That trend will accelerate--believe me, I have talked to a lot of doctors--that trend will accelerate if we don't act. We must pass this bill tonight. The Senate should pass this Medicare bill because it is the only way to avoid the cut. There is no other option. There is no alternative. There is no short-term solution. This is the only train in the station. This is it.”