31 Senators Sign Letter Urging
Medicare Provider Relief
December 20, 2002 - Senators Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) and
Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) have sent a bipartisan letter
to the Senate leadership calling for Medicare provider relief
legislation. The letter was signed by 29 other Senators and
addressed to Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle and Senate
Republican Leader Trent Lott.
The letter urges Sens. Daschle and Lott to work with each
other and the House leadership to ensure enactment of legislation
to restore reimbursement levels for Medicare providers. Sens.
Kyl and Bingaman remind Sens. Daschle and Lott that just two
years ago, the House and Senate successfully negotiated and
enacted provider relief legislation via "The Medicare,
Medicaid, and SCHIP Benefits Improvement and Protection Act
of 2000" (BIPA). Sens. Kyl and Bingaman urge the Senate
leaders to initiate similar House-Senate negotiations "so
that legislation can be developed and acted on, either on
its own or as part of another vehicle." In the letter,
the two Senators express their concern that current and pending
reductions in Medicare reimbursement "could result in
Medicare beneficiaries being unable to find quality healthcare
providers."
The following Senators joined Sens. Kyl and Bingaman as signatories:
Sens. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.); Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.);
Wayne Allard (R-Colo.); Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R-CO); Michael
Crapo (R-Idaho); Sam Brownback (R-Kan.); Jim Bunning (R-Ky.);
Mary Landrieu (D-La.); Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.); John Kerry
(D-Mass.); Carl Levin (D-Mich.); Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.);
Kit Bond (R-Mo.); Jim Talent (R-Mo.); Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.);
Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.); Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.); James Inhofe
(R-Okla.); Gordon Smith (R-Ore.); Ron Wyden (D-Ore.); Lindsey
Graham (R-S.C.); Ernest Hollings (D-S.C.); Tim Johnson (D-S.D.);
Robert Bennett (R-Utah); Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.); George Allen
(R-Va.); Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.); Patty Murray (D-Wash.);
and Michael Enzi (R-Wyo.).
Information:
Lynne Davis Boyle, Assistant Vice President
AAMC Office of Governmental Relations
ldavisboyle@aamc.org
(202) 828-0526
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