AARP Pennsylvania thanks House for passage of bill stopping payment cut to doctors in Medicare

Year-long Physician Payment Solution Ensures Continued Access to Doctors

AARP Pennsylvania State Director Dick Chevrefils released a statement following today's passage of the Medicare and Medicaid Extenders Act of 2010 by the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill stops a scheduled payment cut to doctors in Medicare, ensuring seniors can continue to see their physicians for the next year. Chevrefils' statement follows:

"AARP Pennsylvania thanks the U.S. House of Representatives for swiftly passing this important legislation that will ensure people in Medicare can see their doctors next year. In recent weeks, our members, activists and others in Pennsylvania have contacted their members of Congress more than 1,500 times, urging them to pass this year-long solution.

"The bipartisan bill passed today is an important step to give seniors peace of mind about their health care, but the work is not over. When the new Congress meets next year, lawmakers must find a long-term solution and end the annual patches that jeopardize access to doctors for the country's seniors.

"On behalf of the more than 2.2 million Pennsylvanians in Medicare and the 56,000 clinicians caring for them, we urge the President to quickly sign this legislation. And we look forward to working with Pennsylvania's members of Congress next year to find a long-term bipartisan solution to protect people in Medicare."