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July 9, 2008
FACT CHECK: Republican Congress Failed to Find a Permanent Fix to Cuts in Payments to Doctors
Today, Senator Cornyn disingenuously blamed the Democratically-controlled Congress for failing to permanently put an end to scheduled cuts to payments to doctors under Medicare. Bush Republicans had ample opportunity to come up with a permanent solution when they controlled Congress, but instead kicked the can down the road. Instead of casting blame and playing politics, Bush Republicans should join with Democrats to pass this critical legislation, raise payments to doctors for 18 months and then work with Democrats on a permanent fix to these Medicare payment cuts.
Senator Cornyn Joined His Colleagues in the Republican-Controlled Congress in Passing Legislation to Prevent Cuts For 2003 – But Did Nothing to Push for a Permanent Fix. “In 2002, payment rates were cut by 4.8 percent, and CMS determined that rates would be further reduced by 4.4 percent in 2003. In the Consolidated Appropriation Resolution of 2003 (P.L. 108-7), the Congress responded to that imminent reduction by allowing the Administration to boost the cumulative SGR expenditure target, thereby producing a 1.6 percent increase in payment rates for physicians’ services in 2003.” [CBO Testimony by Donald Marron before the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, 7/25/06; Senate Vote #34, H.J.Res. 2, 2/13/03]
Senator Cornyn Joined His Colleagues in the Republican-Controlled Congress in Passing Legislation to Prevent Cuts for 2004 and 2005 – But Did Nothing to Push for a Permanent Fix. “Spending continued to exceed the target and—if it had been allowed to operate—the SGR mechanism would have reduced payment rates in 2004. The Congress and the President acted to prevent such a reduction. As part of the Medicare Modernization Act (P.L. 108-173), they replaced the scheduled rate reduction with increases of 1.5 percent in both 2004 and 2005.” [CBO Testimony by Donald Marron before the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, 7/25/06; Senate Vote #459, HR 1, 11/25/03]
Senator Cornyn Joined His Colleagues in the Republican-Controlled Congress in Passing Legislation to Prevent Cuts For 2006 – But Did Nothing to Push for a Permanent Fix. “The Deficit Reduction Act (P.L. 109-362) held 2006 payment rates at their 2005 level, overriding an impending reduction of 4.4 percent.” [CBO Testimony by Donald Marron before the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, 7/25/06; Senate Vote #363, S 1932, 12/21/05]
The Senate will convene at 2:00 p.m. and proceed to a period of morning business until 3:00 p.m. with Senators permitted to speak for up to ten minutes each. Following morning business, the Senate will resume consideration of H.R.3590, with Senator Reid, or designee, permitted to offer the first amendment to the Reid substitute; further, that Senator McConnell, or designee, be permitted to offer the next amendment to the substitute with no other amendments in order during Monday's session. There will be no roll call votes during Monday's session.
