Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Terri Sewell voted in favor of H.R. 2, the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act, which reforms the flawed Medicare physician payment system.

“Today, I joined 392 of my colleagues to pass the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act, a historic victory for our nation’s children, seniors, and working class families. This bipartisan agreement is a permanent fix to Medicare’s Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR), which determines physician reimbursement rates, and ensures that our nation’s most vulnerable populations continue to have access to quality, essential healthcare and medical services.

“There are many reasons to celebrate passage of this bill, particularly its inclusion of critical funding for community health centers and initiatives that help low-income seniors pay their Medicare Part-B premiums.  While I had hoped for a longer extension, the bill does include a two-year extension of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), providing continued affordable coverage for the families who depend on this vital program.

“I hope today’s victory is an indicator that House Democrats and Republicans can work together to tackle other issues of critical importance for all Americans.”

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