AARP California Thanks Congress for Protecting People in Medicare

Year-long physician payment solution ensures continued access to doctors

SACRAMENTO, Calif., Dec. 9, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- AARP California State Director Tom Porter released a statement following today's passage of the Medicare and Medicaid Extenders Act of 2010 by the Senate and House of Representatives.  The bill stops a scheduled payment cut to doctors in Medicare, ensuring seniors can continue to see their physicians for the next year.  Porter's statement follows:

"AARP California thanks Congress for swiftly passing this important legislation that will ensure people in Medicare can see their doctors next year.  In recent weeks, our members, activists and others in California have contacted their members of Congress more than 4,000 times, urging them to pass this year-long solution.

"The bipartisan bill passed today is an important step to give seniors peace of mind about their health care, but the work is not over.  When the new Congress meets next year, lawmakers must find a long-term solution and end the annual patches that jeopardize access to doctors for the country's seniors.

"On behalf of the 4.5 million Californians in Medicare and the 115,000 clinicians caring for them, we urge the President to quickly sign this legislation.  And we look forward to working with California's members of Congress next year to find a long-term bipartisan solution to protect people in Medicare."

For more information, visit www.aarp.org/ca.

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan social welfare organization with a membership that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to either political campaigns or candidates. We produce AARP The Magazine, the definitive voice for 50+ Americans and the world's largest-circulation magazine with over 35.1 million readers; AARP Bulletin, the go-to news source for AARP's millions of members and Americans 50+; AARP VIVA, the only bilingual U.S. publication dedicated exclusively to the 50+ Hispanic community; and our website, AARP.org. AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

SOURCE AARP