Kevin Brady: “I thank the chairman for his leadership and hard work on this effort. For over a year, the Ways and Means Committee has…”

“I thank the chairman for his leadership and hard work on this effort. For over a year, the Ways and Means Committee has been leading efforts to advance smart, focused solutions to improve Medicare for the American people. A number of these solutions are included in the bill before us today. These policies take action on three primary goals: First, expanding access to high-quality care; Second, increasing efficiency in the way we deliver care--a key goal that will help patients better receive the care they need when they need it; and Third, incorporating healthcare technologies that are focused on patients, such as telehealth, and eliminating barriers to coordinating care. This means providing new tools to patients that healthcare providers can use to better access care and deliver it and, at the same time, reducing red-tape burdens that now make it harder for our local doctors to provide the high-quality care our Americans deserve. So many of these provisions have support from Republicans and Democrats, and for good reason. These are smart, targeted improvements that will go a long way in helping Medicare patients in Texas and, frankly, throughout the country. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank all of the members of our committee and throughout the House who have worked on these provisions. Improving and strengthening Medicare for the long term is a major priority for the American people.…”