Press Release

The Senate last night overwhelmingly passed legislation to restore certainty to our seniors and to Medicare physicians, and to end the more than decade-long cycle of "doc fix" patches, by repealing and reforming the flawed Medicare payment system known as the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR). The bill passed by a vote of 92 to 8.

Congressman Ami Bera, M.D., one of a handful of doctors in Congress who fought for this legislation, made the following statement:

"As a doctor who's cared for many seniors who rely on Medicare, I know how big this victory is for both America's seniors and for generations to come. After years of gridlock and 17 short-term patches over the last decade, I'm proud we've found a bipartisan solution to replace the broken SGR formula, giving seniors access to the care they need and improving how we deliver health care through Medicare. Under the new system, we're keeping the promise we've made to our parents and grandparents: seniors will get better, more patient-centered care while at the same time costs will be lower and Medicare will be strengthened for the long term. This is a great, bipartisan achievement, and it shows what Congress can accomplish when we put politics aside and do what's best for the American people."

Watch Bera's remarks during debate of the bill.
Read Bera's statement when the bill passed the House.
Read Bera's op-ed on SGR reform in The Hill.

Bera has represented Sacramento County in Congress since 2013. Born and raised in California, he is a physician and the only Indian American currently serving in Congress. He's fighting to rebuild an economy that works for middle class families and to reduce our country's debt in a responsible way. One of Bera's first acts in Congress was to help lead the effort to pass the No Budget No Pay Act, which says if members of Congress don't pass a budget, they don't get paid. As a leader of the No Labels' Problem Solvers, he's working with people from both parties to find bipartisan solutions to our nation's challenges. He and his wife Janine live in Elk Grove with their daughter Sydra. For more updates on Rep. Bera follow @RepBera on Twitter, like Congressman Bera on Facebook, or visit https://www.bera.house.gov.