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U.S. Rep. Latham: Votes to protect Iowa seniors from jump in Medicare premiums
11/20/2009

Contact: Fred Love 202-225-5476 fred.love@mail.house.gov


MISGUIDED PLAN ADDS BILLIONS TO DEFICIT, INCREASES SENIOR MEDICARE PREMIUMS BY 20%

WASHINGTON, DC – Iowa Congressman Tom Latham voted on Thursday to protect Iowa seniors from skyrocketing Medicare premiums that would result from a misguided plan to restructure physician payments.

The legislation, HR 3961, would add $210 billion directly to federal budget deficits and the national debt without addressing the large geographic inequities that keep Iowa’s Medicare reimbursement rates among the lowest in the country.

“Iowans have waited a long time for a comprehensive solution to the problems that plague our physician payment system,” Congressman Latham said. “The House’s approval of HR 3961 means Iowans will have to wait even longer for the answer they’re demanding. I oppose this bill, but I will continue to work for comprehensive common-sense solutions that treat Iowa physicians fairly for the long term.”

The legislation eliminates a planned 21 percent cut in base Medicare payments for physicians beginning on January 1, 2010. But the legislation fails to improve the flawed formulas governing geographic adjustment of payments that have long saddled Iowa doctors with inadequate reimbursements. As a consequence of the increase in payments, the bill will raise Medicare Part B premiums for seniors by as much as 20 percent over the next 10 years.

“A long-term fix for our deeply flawed physician payment system has eluded Congress for years,” Congressman Latham said. “Unfortunately, the proposal approved by the House of Representatives today adds billions to the national debt, hits the pocketbooks of seniors with a jump in Medicare premiums and contains no long-term solution to this long-term problem.”

Congressman Latham supported an alternative bill that would eliminate cuts and increase physician Medicare payments above current levels through cost-saving measures such as liability reform and a faster approval process for generic biologic drugs. The alternative approach would not cause any hikes in Medicare premiums and identifies revenue sources to pay for its proposed changes. -30-


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