AARP Pennsylvania Applauds U.S. Senate for Preserving Access to Doctors for People in Medicare

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Dec 08, 2010, 08:07 ET

Calls on U.S. House to Join Senate and Stop Medicare Doctor Pay Cut

HARRISBURG, Pa., Dec. 8, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- AARP Pennsylvania State Director Dick Chevrefils today released a statement applauding the U.S. Senate for passing legislation that will preserve access to doctors for people in Medicare by stopping a scheduled 25 percent cut in reimbursement. The statement follows:

"We thank the U.S. Senate for working together on a bipartisan basis to stop a drastic pay cut to physicians treating people in Medicare. By stopping the cut for a year, the Senate has given seniors peace of mind that they can continue to see the doctor they trust.

"We now call on the U.S. House to act swiftly and pass this legislation. Without action in the House, doctors in Medicare will face a 25 percent pay cut on January 1, which could drive more doctors out of Medicare.

"On behalf of the more than 2.2 million Pennsylvanians in Medicare and the 56,000 clinicians caring for them, we thank the U.S. Senate for protecting seniors' access to their doctors and urge the U.S. House to do the same.

"We renew our call on Congress to make replacing this unstable payment system an urgent priority next year so we can ensure greater stability for the doctor-patient relationship in Medicare."

For more information, visit www.aarp.org/states/pa

AARP has 1.8 million members in Pennsylvania. 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.

CONTACT: Steve Gardner of AARP Pennsylvania, +1-717-237-6481 or [email protected]

SOURCE AARP Pennsylvania