Doctors’ Medicare payments too low

Harry Reid, Washington

Sunday, July 6, 2008 | 2:03 a.m.

I am deeply worried about Medicare physician payment cuts scheduled to take effect this month. The 10.6 percent pay cut could jeopardize Nevadans’ access to the affordable care they need and deserve.

That is why I am working hard to enact legislation to halt these pay cuts and instead provide physicians with a reimbursement increase.

In June, I twice tried to pass legislation in the Senate to stop these cuts. I first urged my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support a bipartisan Medicare package that not only halted the planned cuts, but also improved Medicare for seniors and reduced their costs.

After the House of Representatives passed a similar bill by an overwhelming bipartisan margin, I made another effort last week to give the Senate the opportunity to act on this important legislation; yet despite support from physicians, patients, pharmacists and hospitals, opposition from the minority party left us one vote short of passage.

While this greatly disappoints me, I remain committed to finding a solution shortly after the Senate returns from the July 4 recess. The time is now for those blocking passage of this bill to support their constituents who need quality medical care.

Nevada’s seniors and people with disabilities deserve the best medical care possible and they need a solution from us.

The writer, a Democrat from Nevada, is the U.S. Senate majority leader.