Michael Burgess: “I want to confine my comments today to issues that surround issues for physician reimbursement. I had two amendments…”

“I want to confine my comments today to issues that surround issues for physician reimbursement. I had two amendments last night in Rules Committee that were not made in order that would have vastly improved physician reimbursement. Instead, we have language in the Democratic underlying bill that provides a small uptick for the next 2 years, then you fall off the cliff, and then you're frozen for the next 10 years. Hardly measures that will encourage people to go into the practice of medicine in the future. I also want to reference section 651, the whole hospital exemption. I would just point out that in the Rules Committee it was made in order that several hospitals would actually be grandfathered out or carved out of that exemption, and most of these hospitals lie in Democratic districts. I have a letter from 75 constituents, physicians back in my home State of Texas, who strongly object to the whole hospital exemption in this bill, and I will submit that for the Record as well. The Democratic party is prepared to take its first step toward cradle to grave government involvement in the lives of all Americans.”