Preserve Access to TRICARE and Medicare

Tell Congress to Fix Reimbursement Rate
Lawmakers failed to reach agreement on legislation that would prevent a 21.2 percent cut in Medicare and TRICARE reimbursement payments before departing for the Easter recess.

As a result, the scheduled April 1 cut is now in effect.

As stated before, these reimbursement rate cuts will have a dramatic and negative impact on military beneficiaries. Failure to fix this issue will restrict TRICARE beneficiary access to quality care and lead to a hollow benefit, a promise that could not be realized.

Several proposals were on the table prior to Congress's departure including the Senate approved version of H.R. 4213, the Tax Extender Bill passed on March 10, which would delay these cuts through September and H.R. 4851, the Continuing Extension Act of 2010, which would delay the scheduled April 1 cut for 30 days. While agreement is broad on avoiding the cuts, many in Congress disagree on the various methods found to date to offset the costs of avoiding the cut.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is delaying lowered payments until Congress reconvenes in mid April. This will give lawmakers a few days to fix this problem. TRICARE has a bit more flexibility than CMS and they may be able to postpone these cuts through the end of the month.

The bottom line is Congress is now on borrowed time and it is imperative that they act quickly before Medicare and TRICARE beneficiaries are seriously affected.

Urge your elected representatives to negate the 21.2 percent cut with a funded measure. Tell them you want this issue resolved immediately upon their return.

Send this alert on to friends and family members and urge them to send letters as well.

I sent my letters via NAUS
capwiz.com/naus/issues/alert/?alertid=14652571

Dear Ms. Rainey:

Thank you for contacting me regarding payments to Medicare providers. I have long advocated reimbursement rates for Medicare that reflect the actual cost of care, and I have consistently voted against cuts in Medicare reimbursement rates.

On March 26, a group of Senators objected to a unanimous consent request to delay the planned 21% cut in Medicare physician reimbursement until October 1. While the cuts are supposed to take effect April 1, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has decided to postpone implementation for 10 business days, giving Congress time to pass legislation to ensure that these cuts are not realized. I am confident we will find a way to avoid these cuts before they have a negative impact on Medicare patients and providers.

On this issue, the status quo is unsustainable. It puts doctors and seniors at the mercy of Congress to pass temporary extensions and makes them vulnerable to political gamesmanship and partisan bickering. I believe we need to permanently repeal the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula, which has proven to be an unrealistic way to reimburse physicians. However, any measure to do so must be paid for. I voted against S. 1776, a bill that would have done away with the SGR, but that also would have added $250 billion to the national debt. I will continue to be actively engaged in finding a responsible way to pay for this necessary fix.

As this debate moves forward, I will continue to work with my colleagues in the Senate to ensure Medicare services remain affordable while physicians are fairly compensated for the care they provide to the millions of beneficiaries in this country. I appreciate your interest in this critical issue, and I hope you will not hesitate to contact me in the future.

Sincerely,
Senator Bill Nelson

Dear Ms. Rainey:

Thank you for contacting my office with regard to H.R. 816, the Military Retirees Health Care Protection Act. I appreciate the time you took to write me.

You may be pleased to know that I am a co-sponsor of this legislation. Introduced by Representative Edwards (TX-17), this bill would express the sense of Congress that: (1) the Department of Defense (DOD) and the nation have a committed health benefits obligation to retired military personnel that exceeds the obligation of corporate employers to civilian employees; and (2) DOD has many additional options to constrain the growth of health care spending in ways that do not disadvantage beneficiaries, and should pursue such options rather than seeking large fee increases for beneficiaries.

Further, this legislation would prohibit an increase after: (1) April 1, 2006, in a premium, deductible, copayment, or other charge prescribed by the Secretary of Defense for medical and dental health care coverage for military personnel; and (2) September 30, 2009, in the dollar amount of a cost-sharing requirement under the DOD pharmacy benefits program.

Finally, this legislation would also prohibit: (1) charges for DOD inpatient care from exceeding $535 per day; and (2) beginning on January 1, 2009, an increase in premiums under TRICARE (a DOD managed health care program) for certain members of the Selected Reserve.

This legislation is currently being considered by the House Committee on Armed Services. Please know that as the 111th Congress considers veterans legislation, I will continue to support proposals which provide meaningful benefits to those who served our nation in uniform.

Thank you again for contacting my office.

May God continue to bless America.

Sincerely,
Adam Putnam
Member of Congress