Earlier today, the Senate approved by a vote of 84-12 an amendment to
the jobs and growth tax stimulus package (S. 1054) that would increase
funding for a number of rural health care services. This amendment
would be paid for, in part, by enacting a TEN-YEAR FREEZE on CPI
adjustments for Medicare O&P Payments–meaning a zero payment update for
the next 10 years.
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REQUIRED ACTION: We need as many people as possible to contact their
Senators via phone, fax and e-mail and urge them to oppose the 10-year
freeze in Medicare O&P payments. Please inform your senators that such
drastic actions would be devastating to Medicare recipients who need
orthotic and prosthetic services.
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You can get the contact information for your senator by calling the
Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121, or by accessing www.Senate.gov
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While the Senate is likely to pass the tax package with the 10 year
Medicare O&P payment freeze included, the Senate bill will be vastly
different that the House-passed tax package. Differences in the House
and Senate package must be rectified by a Conference Committee.
Therefore, there is still time for you to express your opinion and for
us to eliminate this freeze from the final tax package. =20
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THIS ALERT IS VERY TIME SENSITIVE!!!=20
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PLEASE CALL (202) 224-3121 NOW AND LET YOUR SENATOR KNOW THAT YOU OPPOSE
A TEN-YEAR FREEZE IN MEDICARE O&P PAYMENTS.