Political Quotes

“In just a little bit over a month's time, the Nation's physicians will face a 25 percent reduction in payment in the Medicare system. This severely affects access for Medicare patients and is something that could be resolved. Two weeks ago, for the first time, introduced in the House, H.R. 4015 was a compromise agreement between Republicans and Democrats, House and Senate, on a way forward for repealing the sustainable growth rate formula. It does represent a compromise and is not going to please everyone, but it is a significant achievement and was marked by an editorial piece in The Wall Street Journal on February 19 titled ``Fixing the `Doc Fix.' '' In the Journal's editorial, they note that the Senate Finance, House Ways and Means, and Energy and Commerce Committees don't agree on much, but they are doing a service by agreeing to end this charade known as the SGR. They go on to note that ``doctors hate the uncertainty of the SGR.'' That is an understatement. Every Member of this House has heard from their physicians back home about how much they hate this formula. They go on to say, ``Absent reform, one way or another the money is going to be spent, and Congress can either continue to do so in incremental doc-fix slices or admit in advance that it was always going to do it.'' In fact, the time has come. It is within our power. We should repeal the SGR and pass H.R. 4015. ____________________”