Maurice Hinchey: “They were put into place because it had become clear that overbilling had become rampant in the system, and this was…”

“They were put into place because it had become clear that overbilling had become rampant in the system, and this was something that was done to ensure fairness and to prevent overbilling. I think the point that the gentleman has just raised is important, and it reminded me of something that I have here. The Physician's Payment Review Commission, which is a nonpartisan panel of experts that advises Congress on Medicare policy, had the following to say. They said, and I quote, this change that our friends, the Republicans want to make here, which would allow unscrupulous physicians to overbill Medicare patients by large amounts, they say, and I quote, "could leave beneficiaries exposed to substantial out-of-pocket liability in the range of 40 percent of the bill." So the effect of their proposal, which will be, I think, here before us tomorrow or later this week, is it tomorrow?”