Health care is an issue that concerns all of us.  While in Congress, I have sought to ensure that quality, reliable, accessible and affordable health care is available to all North Alabamians.  I believe it is critical that Congress provide the necessary avenues for physicians, nurses, pharmacists and others in medical fields, to offer the best health care and medical services possible.

• Medicare Part D:  I supported the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act (MMA) of 2003, which created the Medicare Part D prescription drug program.  It is part of my job as a Member of Congress to see that Medicare Part D continues to run as smoothly as possible.  Congress will continue to provide the necessary guidance and adjustments required for a successful Medicare Part D program.
  
  During the 109th Congress, I was a co-sponsor of H.R. 5182, the Fair and Speedy Treatment of Claims (FAST) Act of 2006 which sought to address the slow and unclear reimbursement issues pharmacists faced with the new Medicare Part D program.
  
  In January 2007, I supported H.R. 4, the Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act of 2007, that would give the federal government the authority to negotiate directly with drug companies to lower the price of drugs available under Medicare Part D.
  
  
• Medicare physician payment rates:  I remain proactive in helping to prevent cuts to Medicare physician payment rates.  I supported the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act (MMA) of 2003, which mandated Sustainable Growth Rate formula (SGR) updates of no less than 1.5% for 2004 and 2005.  I was also a co-sponsor of H.R. 2356, the Preserving Patient Access to Physicians Act of 2005 (Rep. Shaw) which would set a Medicare physician payment increase for 2006 at no less than 2.7%.
  
  I have signed onto, and authored, numerous letters to House leadership and Ways & Means Committee Members encouraging them to review the SGR formula because of the yearly concern of impending cuts to physician Medicare reimbursements.  This included a letter last Fall to Speaker Hastert and Leader Pelosi, urging them to enact a fix before the end of the 109th Congress.  Indeed, Congress passed legislation, with my support, in December 2006 which eliminated the impending 5% reduction in physician payments.
  
  
• Medicaid:  This year will prove difficult as we struggle with the need for expanding coverage to the uninsured, while coping with large Medicaid expenses.  I remain opposed to unnecessary cuts to Medicaid, which in addition to providing health care for low-income individuals, support health care coverage for many children in Alabama and across the country.  Thirty-six percent of children in Alabama are enrolled in Medicaid.
  
  The reauthorization of the State Children's Health Insurance (SCHIP) Program will soon come before Congress, as it expires at the end of 2007. This joint state-federal program covers health insurance for children whose families have low incomes, but do not qualify for Medicaid.  I look forward to supporting this legislation that has reduced the number of uninsured children in this country by one-third.
  
  
• Tort Reform:  I consistently support House-sponsored medical malpractice reform bills, such as the Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act of 2005.  This bill would have made a number of changes to current law on medical malpractice lawsuits filed in federal and state court.

2008 Healthcare Press Releases from Rep. Bud Cramer:

Related Healthcare Links:

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services


To access a list of all available prescription drug plans, you can visit the medicare benefits website or call 800-MEDICARE (633-4227).