On the recordMarch 26, 2015
I want to thank Chairman Pitts for the work that he has done on this, as well as the other members of our committee. I do rise today in support of H.R. 2. I think every one of us have constituents who are Medicare enrollees who tell us the stories and the stress that comes with not being able to see a doctor because they are no longer taking Medicare patients. What this does is go to the heart of the problem, the SGR, the sustainable growth rate. It was a big part of the problem--the sword of Damocles, if you will--because doctors never knew if they were going to get paid or what they were going to get paid or if it was going to be a double-digit or a single-digit cut. Let's get that off the table and provide some certainty. H.R. 2 is finally going to eliminate the flawed SGR. It will be replaced with commonsense legislation which will provide healthcare providers with the predictability that is necessary to meet the needs of Medicare enrollees. In addition, H.R. 2 takes an important step to rein in healthcare spending, incentivizing doctors on quality, as opposed to quantity, getting at part of the problem of our entitlement programs. I congratulate all involved. I encourage a ``yes'' vote.
