Corker Votes Against Selfish, Short-sighted Solution to Health Care Reform   October 22nd, 2009 - WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-TN) today voted against legislation, S. 1776, which eliminates the SGR (Sustainable Growth Rate) Medicare payment model without replacing it with another and adds $246.9 billion to the debt. In a 47-53 vote, the U.S. Senate rejected moving forward with the bill. “I have consistently voiced strong support for a permanent solution to the ‘SGR’ dilemma and wholeheartedly believe it should be fully addressed – along with its cost,” said Corker. “While I strongly believe in health care reform that will stand the test of time, Americans should recognize this vote as the first test of the health care debate, a test that the Obama administration and Democratic leaders flunked. Right out of the gate they offered a two-page bill that adds $246.9 billion to our deficit as a quid pro quo to buy the American Medical Association’s support of health care reform. Fortunately, 13 of my Democratic colleagues recognized what a sinister piece of legislation this was and voted against it. “If this first vote is a sign of what’s to come, all Americans should keep their antennas up and continue to watch very closely as the health care debate unfolds.” S. 1776 would end the way doctors are reimbursed for treating Medicare beneficiaries. Under current law, reimbursement levels are subject to change each year because of the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula. The SGR system, established in 1997 to constrain costs, sets a spending cap for the entire Medicare program each year, and if overall spending exceeds that level (which it has, every year, since 2002), Medicare physician fees are cut to bring expenditures in line with the SGR target. The issue has left every Congress since 2002 scrambling to prevent drastic pay cuts to physicians who treat Medicare patients. ###   ### « Previous Press Release Press Releases Next Press Release »   October 2009 Press Releases  « September | November »   « 2008 | 2010 »  21st -  Corker Says Reid Health Care Plan Takes Our Country in Exactly the Wrong Direction 21st -  In the News: Analysis: Senate health bill includes budget tricks 9th -  Corker: Americans Want Responsible Health Care Reform – Not a Bill That Sends Unfunded Mandates to States, Takes Money from Medicare for New Entitlements, Passes Costs to Future Generations 22nd -  current Press Release 21st -  Corker: Washington is Embracing Selfish, Short-sighted Solutions to Health Care Reform 7th -  Corker: We Shouldn’t Pay For Health Care Reform with Unfunded Mandates and Money From Medicare 6th -  Bredesen Tells Corker Medicaid Expansion Could Cost Tennessee an Estimated $735 Million in First Five Years 22nd -  Corker Named Lead Republican on Senate Aging Committee   U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging G31 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 Phone: 202-224-5364 Fax: 202-224-8660 mailbox@aging.senate.gov

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