WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Pat Roberts today voted to override the President’s veto of a bill to strengthen and improve the Medicare program for Kansas patients and providers, improving benefits for Kansas seniors while holding off drastic cuts to Medicare physician payments. The bill, The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act, passed the Senate 70-26. The House earlier voted to override the veto by a vote of 383-41 and the bill will now become law.

"My support for this bill was easy," Senator Roberts said. "It was the right thing to do for seniors, military families and health providers."

As a member of the Senate Finance Committee, which overseas the Medicare program, Senator Roberts is an outspoken advocate for the needs of Kansas seniors, doctors, hospitals and pharmacists.

"It has been my pleasure to work with so many Kansans on this legislation," Roberts said. "It is clear that all of the support from the Kansas AARP, Kansas Medical Society, Kansas Hospital Association, Kansas Pharmacists Association, and all of the other military, health provider and patient groups got us the strong support needed to get us to the finish line. Thank you for your hard work and perseverance. It was unfortunate that the President chose to veto this bipartisan bill, but I am glad Congress acted swiftly to override his veto and make this bill a reality."

The bill holds off the10.6 percent cut in Medicare payments to physicians for services they provide Medicare patients, provides incentives for reporting on quality care and requires electronic prescribing by doctors under the Medicare prescription drug program to make the program more efficient and cost-effective.

Roberts pointed out the bill also includes improved Medicare benefits for Kansas seniors, including expanded preventive care coverage, lower cost-sharing for mental health services and additional help for low-income seniors.

Roberts has long championed two important pharmacy provisions in the bill. The first requires pharmacies to be promptly paid under the Medicare drug program. Unfortunately, many Kansas pharmacies are not being paid in a timely manner under the Medicare prescription drug program, forcing many to carry unbearable debt. The bill corrects this problem and will keep Kansas pharmacy doors open so seniors can continue to see their hometown pharmacist. The second pharmacy provision delays a harmful regulation issued by the Washington Medicaid office which would severely cut Medicaid reimbursements to pharmacies. Without this delay, many Kansas pharmacists fear they will have to stop serving Medicaid patients or severely restrict access to medications.

Also included in the bill is a comprehensive rural health package, many of these provisions coming from the Craig Thomas Rural Hospital and Provider Equity Act (S. 1605) introduced by Sen. Roberts and Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND) last June. These provisions include improvements to rural hospitals, including Critical Access Hospitals and Sole Community Hospitals, increased ambulance payments, and improvements for telehealth services. Sen. Roberts is the co-chair of the Senate Rural Health Caucus with Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA).  

Senator Roberts is a member of the Senate Finance Committee and the Senate Health Education Labor and Pensions Committee.

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