WASHINGTON, DC – Late last night and into the early hours of this morning, Senator Roberts fought for lower health insurance premiums, patients and critical access hospitals during the Senate’s “vote-a-rama” on the package of changes to the new health care reform law. Of the first 23 Republican amendments offered to modify this package, Senator Roberts offered three significant amendments to change this bill.

Leading efforts to modify the reconciliation package, Roberts introduced an amendment to remove the new $20 billion, 2.3 percent medical device excise tax. The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office and the Joint Committee on Taxation both confirmed that this tax will be borne not by the medical device industry, but instead, will be passed on to patients in the form of higher prices and higher insurance premiums. This amendment was defeated on a party line vote.

Next, Senator Roberts offered an amendment to fight for rural, critical access hospitals that were left out of a Medicare cuts exemption. All other hospitals will be excluded from harmful Medicare cuts from the new, unelected, Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB). These additional cuts to our 83 Kansas critical access hospitals could be devastating. This amendment was also voted down on a party line vote.

Finally, Roberts introduced a “motion to commit,” to send the legislation back to the Senate Finance Committee and remove the four new health care rationing boards currently in the bill. This motion was voted down on a party line vote.

“The American people do not want this new health care law, and I will continue to fight and do all I can to modify this reconciliation package of changes to it,” Senator Roberts said. “In order to vigorously protect the right of patients and doctors to make treatment decisions against the danger that the government will interfere in that process, we must remove the four rationing boards in the bill. I am disappointed my motion to remove these rationing bodies from the bill did not pass.

“I will continue to jump at every legislative opportunity to change ObamaCare and lower premiums, protect the doctor/patient relationship and hold our rural hospitals in Kansas harmless. I am trying all I can to improve this reconciliation package for patients in America.”

Senator Roberts voted against the new health care reform law on Christmas Eve. He continues to fight for Kansas patients and providers as the reconciliation package is considered today.

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