WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., today issued the following statement regarding pending legislation (S.1776) to address the Medicare doctors’ reimbursement issue by adding nearly $250 billion to the national debt:

“I have long supported repealing the flawed formula that sets Medicare reimbursement rates for physicians.  Without a fix, doctors face a cut of over 20 percent in 2010.  However, S. 1776, as introduced, is seriously flawed.  It holds the reimbursement rate level forever, meaning doctors would be faced with steadily increasing prices without ever receiving a pay raise. 

“The bill also places the entire cost of the $250 billion so-called ‘fix’ directly on the backs of future generations.  Another quarter of a trillion dollars added to the deficit is not what our economy needs right now.  We need to solve this doctors’ reimbursement problem, and we can do so without piling on to our already massive debt.

“I am hopeful that Democrats will allow amendments to the bill that provide for an alternative to the reimbursement formula and pay for the cost of a true fix to the physician payment system.  I plan on offering an amendment to the bill that will achieve both of those goals.”

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