Max Baucus: “Today I rise to urge passage of S. 3101, the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act. This is the right…”

“Today I rise to urge passage of S. 3101, the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act. This is the right bill for America's seniors and the health care providers who treat them. It is a balanced bill, and it enjoys strong bipartisan support. It hasn't been easy to get to this point. I have engaged in earnest negotiations with Senator Grassley, Minority Leader McConnell, and the administration to reach a compromise on this bill. After several weeks of talks, it became clear that we would not be able to reach agreement on a bill that is fair to both rural and urban areas, and that balances the need to help America's seniors with the need to address the pending payment cut for Medicare providers. So I have worked with Democrats and willing Republicans to craft this legislation, the right legislation, and I urge all Senators to enthusiastically support it. There is urgency in this call for support. We must act now to block the cuts that Medicare's doctors will face on July 1.”