Washington, D.C. — U.S. Representative Mike McIntyre today supported legislation that will provide relief to patients, physicians, the pharmacy community, rural and other health care providers, and Medicare beneficiaries.

By a bipartisan vote of 355-59, the U.S. House approved the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008, which prevents the pending 10 percent payment reduction for physicians in Medicare, enhances preventive and mental health benefits, improves and extends programs for low-income Medicare beneficiaries, and extends expiring provisions for rural and other providers.

“Each and every day, our health care providers work to ensure that we stay healthy, and it is important that we in Congress guarantee that they are paid fairly.  It is also critical that we make overdue improvements to Medicare, continue to preserve access for seniors and the disabled, and help pharmacies serve Medicare and Medicaid patients.  This bill will make the necessary improvements to our health care system, and I am pleased to support it,” said Congressman McIntyre.

Key provisions in the bill include:

Physicians

· An elimination of the pending 10 percent cut in Medicare payments to physicians for 2008 and a 1.1 percent update for 2009.

Pharmacies

· A suspension of competitive bidding in the Durable Medical Equipment program for one year as well as exempting diabetes test supplies from being subject to competitive bidding.

·  A requirement that Medicare Advantage plans pay pharmacies promptly (within 14 days) and update the prices they will reimburse for prescription medicines at least weekly so the pharmacies know that they should get paid.

· An implementation delay of the Average Manufacturing Price (AMP) system that causes pharmacists to be reimbursed 36% below cost to distribute generic Medicaid prescriptions.

 Rural Providers/Beneficiaries  

· Protects access to care in rural America by improving payments for critical access hospitals and ambulances.

· Extends expiring provisions that preserve payment equity for rural physicians and rural hospitals.

· Increases access to tele-health services.

 Beneficiaries

· An extension of low-assistance programs for Medicare beneficiaries whose income is below $14,040.

· New preventive benefits to the Medicare program.

· Reduction of beneficiary out-of-pocket costs for mental health care.

· Better care for patients with end-stage renal disease.

 Other

· Changes to Medicare payments including, postponing the Durable Medical Equipment competitive bidding program and protecting access to therapy services by extending the exceptions process to the limits on therapy visits for beneficiaries in nursing homes. 

 Congressman McIntyre is a member of the Rural Health Care Coalition.