Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act

The Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act of 2009 (H.R. 3961), introduced by Representative John Dingell, would fix Medicare's broken physician payment system and help ensure that seniors and the disabled will continue to have access to their doctors.  The bill would repeal a 21 percent fee reduction scheduled for January 2010 and replace it with a stable system that protects seniors, preserves their relationship with their doctors, and promotes primary care.  The bill would preserve seniors’ access to their doctors by replacing the pending fee cut with a temporary payment index while the new payment system is put in place.  It would also establish a fairer target for spending increases by physicians, provide extra allowances for spending growth by primary care practitioners, and encourage physicians to take responsibility for improving quality and reducing costs.  This bill is a crucial step toward strengthening Medicare and providing better benefits and the highest quality of care for our elderly.