Baca votes to protect seniors access to doctors

Rep.  Joe Baca on Thursday voted to preserve seniors' access to their doctors by fixing the way Medicare pays physicians. 

H.R. 3961, the Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act, permanently reforms the Medicare payment system, repealing a 21% cut in payments to doctors scheduled to take place in January and replacing it with a stable system that protects seniors, preserves their relationship with their doctors and promotes primary care. 

The bill passed the House with a 243 to 183 vote.

"I am proud to support this responsible bill, which lowers costs and improves care for America's senior citizens," Bacac said. 

"Medicare is a lifeline for our seniors in the Inland Empire and across the nation. 

"This bill strengthens our system and protects the ability of the over 194,000 Medicare recipients in my District to have reliable access to their doctors."
 
This bill tackles seniors' main concern - preventing pay cuts that could encourage doctors to stop seeing Medicare patients, according to a news release from Baca's office.

The bill builds on the health insurance reform bill the House passed earlier this month, which will lower premiums, extend the solvency of Medicare by five years, improve preventive and primary care for seniors, and close the "donut hole" drug coverage gap, according to the news release.

Baca is a Democrat who represents the 43rd District, which includes Fontana and Ontario.