Washington, DC
Yesterday, House Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Richard E. Neal joined Chairman Kevin Brady (D-TX) to pass from the House H.R. 3178, The Medicare Part B Improvement Act of 2017, a bipartisan bill to build on an already successful program.
Congressman Neal said, “The American people sent us here to get things done. H.R. 3178 is an example of how Democrats and Republicans can work together and create thoughtful, realistic policies. I stand ready to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to develop forward thinking health care proposals that help Americans across the age and economic spectrum.”
Specifically, H.R. 3178 brings together a number of important measures, all aimed at improving this important program. It includes a common sense transitional policy for home infusion services, streamlines Medicare rules to improve access to medically necessary prosthetics and orthotics, and helps dialysis facilities improve backlogs so they can more efficiently treat end-stage renal disease. It also allows telehealth so patients can receive dialysis in the comfort of their own home and includes language to provide more certainty for Medicare providers.
The passage of this bill is in stark contrast to what the United States Senate was doing—voting to bring up measures that would take away health insurance from millions, harm Medicaid, increase health insurance premiums on middle-class Americans, and impose an age tax on seniors.
Congressman Neal concluded, “This is a common sense, bipartisan bill that does a number of things to improve Medicare Part B. I was pleased to work with Chairman Brady and my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to make this legislation a reality.”
A link to Congressman Neal’s floor speech can be found here.
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