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The clock is ticking on a health care emergency that, if unaddressed, will affect millions of doctors and patients across the country before the end of the month. In 19 days, Medicare reimbursement rates are scheduled to drop 10%, based on an outdated formula that we desperately need to fix. A 10% cut to Medicare reimbursement rates will force tens of thousands of doctors into the red, and millions of Medicare patients will find that their doctor can’t afford to treat them. Tomorrow, the Senate will vote to take up a bill that will protect us from this gathering storm, and steer our Medicare and Medicaid programs to steadier ground. Tomorrow’s vote is on whether to take up the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008, which Senator Max Baucus recently introduced and which I strongly support. This bill will stop the pending 10% payment cut for Medicare physicians, replacing it with a 1.1% payment increase. The bill will also extend critical programs to improve coverage for seniors in rural areas, those with low incomes, and those with limited access to health care. We need to address this issue with the urgency it demands and pass this bill. Below are links to the Senate Finance Committee’s website with detailed information on key aspects of the bill. Making Medicare Work Better for Every Beneficiary Quality Care for Rural Seniors Paying Doctors Fairly for Care Helping Pharmacies Serve Seniors Better Care for Patients with End-Stage Renal Disease Cutting the Fat from Payments to Private Plans Protecting Seniors from Shady Marketing of Medicare Plans Providing Wheelchairs for Seniors, Saving Money When Medicare Pays Ensuring Oxygen Equipment for Seniors, Saving Money in Medicare Visit this URL on the Finance website for the collected information: http://finance.senate.gov/sitepages/medicare2008.htm. I am hopeful that
tomorrow my colleagues, on a bipartisan basis, will agree that we need
to move ahead with debate on this bill. Too much is at stake to let this
bill get stuck in the politics of obstructionism. Sincerely,
Ken Salazar
Please e-mail me with any questions or concerns you may have Senator
Ken Salazar's DC office is located at 702 Hart Senate office building,
Washington, DC 20510. He has Colorado regional offices in Denver, Colorado
Springs, Fort Collins, Ft. Morgan, Pueblo, Durango, Grand Junction and
Alamosa. For contact and mailing info, click
here.
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Recent Statements and Work Sen. Salazar Continues to Fight to Reform Broken Health Care System Sen. Salazar Seeks Answers to High Cost, Low Quality Health Care Conundrum Sen. Salazar Statement on Medicare Agreement and Children's Health Insurance Extension Funding In the News Report:
Proposed Medicaid cuts could cost hospitals millions Vote
to save $787 million for Colorado Medicaid Salazar
says hospital budget cuts would hurt Colorado
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