AARP laudes passing of the American Jobs, Closing Tax Loopholes and Preventing Outsourcing Act
May 29th, 2010 - 2:42 am ICT by BNO NewsWASHINGTON, D.C. (BNO NEWS) – AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond on Friday said that the passage of the American Jobs, Closing Tax Loopholes and Preventing Outsourcing Act by the U.S. House of Representatives is critical step toward providing security and peace of mind for millions of seniors and their doctors.
“The legislative package passed by the House of Representatives is a critical step toward providing security and peace of mind for the millions of seniors in Medicare and the doctors who care for them,” said LeaMond. “The legislation will avert a devastating 21 percent pay cut to doctors caring for people in Medicare and helps restore seniors’ and physicians’ confidence in a strong and reliable Medicare program.”
She continued by saying that the series of bills will also extend unemployment insurance benefits that are especially important to older workers who want work but cannot get a job. The unemployment rate for older workers remains the highest in 60 years, with an average duration of unemployment for older workers rising to over 10 months.
“We are disappointed that the final package failed to include other priorities for older Americans, including extension of health insurance subsidies for people who lost their coverage when they lost their jobs, as well as relief to states for critical health care services that would both preserve jobs and help older Americans live in their own homes and stay out of more expensive care settings.”
She also expressed disappointment with the Senate for not acting on this package before going to recess, and urged them to act immediately upon return to make sure that tens of millions of Americans can continue to see their doctors.
“While we recognize the package passed today by the House is only a short-term solution, older Americans – and the physicians who treat them – should not continue to be held hostage by band-aid patches to an unworkable Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula,” she said.
LeaMond concluded by saying that they AARP is committed to working with Members of Congress from both sides of the aisle to repeal the SGR and establish a permanent physician payment system that rewards value and ends the uncertainty for patients and providers alike.
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