Max Baucus: “The purpose of the provision is to make Medicare a better business partner to providers, a smarter purchaser of services…”

“The purpose of the provision is to make Medicare a better business partner to providers, a smarter purchaser of services for our taxpayers, and a more customer-friendly organization for our beneficiaries. MARCIA will strengthen and improve Medicare and will help bring the program's administration into the 21st century. The provisions provide for regulatory improvements. I have heard from hundreds of doctors, as I know all in this body have, and many providers who complain that the sheer number and complexity of Medicare regulations can drive them crazy and, at times, drive them out of business. While we cannot make Medicare into a simple program, this bill would make and does take some helpful steps in the right direction.”