Wasserman Schultz Statement in Support of DOC FIX Legislation

Press Release

U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23) released the following statement today after the House of Representatives passed H.R. 2, the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015. A major provision of the bill is fixing Medicare's Sustainable Growth Rate, commonly referred to as the "doc fix':

"Congress' inability to enact a permanent "doc-fix' has vexed us for almost 20 years. To date we've spent nearly $170 billion on short-term patches to prevent significant cuts to doctors who accept Medicare, a practice which has also impacted the ability of some seniors to see their doctors and get the care they need.

"Today, the House voted in a bipartisan fashion to end our flawed practice of temporary, year-to-year fixes and restore certainty to our seniors and to Medicare physicians. In doing so, we will help improve quality of care and the accuracy of payments. I have always supported a permanent fix to this problem and it is why I voted in support of the bill before us today.

"This legislation also includes strengthened protections for low-income seniors and children, such as making Medicare Part B premiums more affordable and extending the Children's Health Insurance Program to cover kids in need.

"Let me be perfectly clear; this was not an easy vote to take. But legislating in this partisan environment, and finding compromise to solve big problems, never is. I am extremely concerned about Congressional Republicans' increasing zeal in restricting women's reproductive health choices. The slope is getting more slippery with each bill they introduce, and I am committed to working with my colleagues, pro-choice advocates and America's women to stop out of touch, mostly male politicians from interfering in decisions that are best left between a woman, her family and her health providers."

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