AARP Illinois Thanks House for Protecting People in Medicare

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Dec 09, 2010, 04:00 ET

Year-long physician payment solution ensures continued access to doctors

CHICAGO, Dec. 9, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- AARP Illinois Senior State Director Bob Gallo released a statement following today's passage of the Medicare and Medicaid Extenders Act of 2010 by the 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. Gallo's statement follows:

"AARP Illinois thanks the U.S. House of Representatives 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 Illinois have contacted their members of Congress over 2,700 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 over 1.8 million people in Illinois on Medicare and the 47,438 clinicians caring for them, we urge the President to quickly sign this legislation. And we look forward to working with the Illinois Congressional delegation next year to find a long-term bipartisan solution to protect people in Medicare."

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

SOURCE AARP Illinois