Knowing of your interest in the pending July Medicare physician cuts, I wanted to provide you with an update of my efforts to not only halt these physician cuts but also provide an increase in reimbursement.

Once again, Congress waited until the last minute to address the scheduled Medicare physician cuts. Now, at the eleventh hour, the Senate's Democratic leadership has chosen to play political games rather than pass substantive policy that will be signed into law. Democratic Senator Max Baucus has proposed legislation that would halt the physician cuts by cutting funding to the Medicare Advantage program. The White House has repeatedly stated they will veto any bill that significantly cuts Medicare Advantage, yet the Senate Majority continues to push a bill that will be vetoed. A vote for Sen. Baucus' bill would effectively ensure that the Medicare physician cuts go into effect because the White House has made it clear that they will veto legislation that cuts funding to Medicare Advantage.

Senator Chuck Grassley has proposed an alternative and compromise to the Baucus bill that would also stop the reimbursement cuts and provide the same reimbursement increase as the Baucus bill through 2009. Senator Grassley's bill is non-controversial and would be signed by the president, meaning that passing the Grassley bill is the key to preventing the cuts before they go into effect on July 1. I strongly support preventing the Medicare physician reimbursement cuts and am actively working with my colleagues to support and pass the Grassley bill into law quickly so Medicare cuts are prevented.

In addition to my support of the Grassley bill, I cosponsored the Save Medicare Act which would also halt the physician cuts and provide an increase in the reimbursement rate through the end of 2009. Medicare physician cuts would directly harm access to medical care for Louisiana seniors and would threaten many physician practices from serving Medicare patients, particularly in rural and underserved areas. That is why it is so important to pass legislation that will be signed into law by the President.

Rest assured that I will continue working in the U.S. Senate to pass legislation that will prevent the physician reimbursement cuts. If you would like updates on this and other key issues that affect Louisiana families, please visit my website at www.vitter.senate.gov and sign up for my E-Updates. Thank you for your time, and please do not hesitate to contact me in the future about other issues important to you and your family.

Sincerely,


Senator David Vitter
United States Senator

P.S. Please visit my webiste to sign up for E-Updates and receive regular email updates from me on the issues important to Louisiana families.