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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:
CMS announced yesterday that Medicare Advantage rates for 2016 will increase by an average of 1.25 percent, a reversal from the 0.95 percent cut CMS proposed in February. Congressman Ami Bera, M.D. fought against the proposed cuts that would have increased costs for seniors and blocked their access to care. He offered the following comment:
Today, while in Elk Grove to celebrate March for Meals month with local seniors, Congressman Ami Bera, M.D. announced that he's returning his 2014 pension to the U.S. Treasury to pay down the U.S. debt, keeping the oath he made to the people of Sacramento County to decline his Congressional pension until Medicare and Social Security are secure.
On Saturday, Congressman Ami Bera, M.D. hosted his first Community Forum in Rancho Cordova. The forum featured remarks from Bera, California Assemblyman Ken Cooley, and Mayor of Rancho Cordova Robert McGarvey and a question and answer period that was moderated by Rancho Cordova City Councilman Donald Terry. Staff was also available to help constituents with any issues they may be having with the federal, state, or local government.
Last Friday, Congressman Ami Bera, M.D., presented Mr. Paul Williams with three service medals earned during the Vietnam War. Williams, a longtime Fair Oaks resident, had never received nor pursued his medals after separating from the Air Force due to the public sentiment about the Vietnam War at the time.
"It was an honor to help recognize Mr. Williams' service to our country. Too many of our veterans go without thanks, especially our Vietnam War veterans who faced a difficult homecoming," said Bera.
The U.S. House of Representatives voted on several budget proposals today and passed a Republican budget proposal with extra spending on defense 219 to 208. Congressman Ami Bera, M.D. made the following comment:
Following the introduction of bipartisan legislation to permanently fix the SGR formula for Medicare provider payments, Congressman Ami Bera, M.D. released the following statement:
"As a doctor who's cared for many seniors who rely on Medicare, I know how much of a lifeline it is to our parents and grandparents. That's why we need to fix the flawed formula for reimbursing Medicare health care providers that has threatened seniors' access to health care for more than a decade.
Congressmen Ami Bera, M.D. (CA-7) and Mark Meadows (NC-11) recently introduced The Doctors Helping Heroes Act, bipartisan legislation first introduced last year that will help deal with the serious shortage of doctors the Veterans Affairs system is facing and help decrease wait times at VA hospitals. The bill would allow foreign doctors trained in the U.S. to practice at VA hospitals and in under-served areas where they are sorely needed.
Congressman Ami Bera, M.D. member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following statement on news that the bodies of Israeli teenagers Naftali Frenkel, Eyal Yifrach, and Gilad Shaar have been found:
"I am deeply saddened by the news from Israel today that the bodies of three kidnapped teens were found. As a parent, I cannot imagine what the families of Gil-ad, Naftali, and Eyal are going through and my thoughts and prayers are with all their loved ones. We must make sure that those responsible are brought to justice."