Congresswoman Matsui Statement on Passage of SGR Repeal

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, March 26, 2015

CONTACT: JONELLE TRIMMER
(202) 225-7163

Congresswoman Matsui Statement on Passage of SGR Repeal

Today Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-06), a member of the Health Subcommittee, issued the following statement on passage of H.R. 2, Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015:

"Today I voted to replace the broken SGR formula and improve the way that Medicare pays doctors. The new system transitions Medicare away from a volume-based system towards one that rewards value, ensures the accuracy of payments, and improves the quality of care.

"This bipartisan package includes important victories for low-income seniors, children and families. The bill extends a program that helps low-income seniors pay their Medicare Part B premiums. It also extends important elements of the Affordable Care Act, including a two-year extension of the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and funding for Community Health Centers.

"As Americans continue to obtain insurance coverage through the Affordable Care Act, we need to ensure that they can use that coverage to access care. While this bill is not perfect, it is a vast improvement over the current SGR formula which routinely endangers seniors' ability to see their doctors. The bill that I voted for today will improve seniors' access to Medicare doctors, children's access to care under CHIP, and our community members' access to care in clinics and health centers."

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