Sen. Reid protests GOP move blocking Medicare doctor rates bill

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., says the decision by the Republican caucus to block a vote on the Medicare Physician Fairness Act is not the end of the fight.

Reid tried to bring the bill revamping the system that pays doctors for treating Medicare patients to a Senate vote, saying he was told there would be 27 Republicans in favor of it. But those votes never materialized.

"We're not going to let the minority here in the Senate stop us from doing the right thing," he said.

Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., was among those who voted to block an up-or-down vote on the legislation.

Reid said not only Medicare reimbursements but other payments are based on those rates.

The American Association of Retired Persons joined Reid's call for passage of the legislation, saying without it, Medicare reimbursements will be cut back 21.5 percent in January.

"This legislation permanently repeals Medicare's flawed Sustainable Growth Rate physician payment formula," AARP officials said in a prepared statement.

Doing so will prevent that pay cut.

Nevada AARP Director Barry Gold said if that cut occurs, it would almost certainly cause more doctors to refuse Medicare patients, making access to medical treatment much more difficult for the more than 300,000 Nevada AARP members.

While the organization doesn't endorse candidates or contribute to campaigns, it does track votes on key legislation important to its members.

"We believe people make the right choices when they understand the issues and positions taken by their elected officials," Gold said. "AARP intends to ensure that its members get that information."