Sens. Biden and Carper Vote Bill to Protect Medicare Benefits

WASHINGTON – Sens. Joe Biden and Tom Carper (both D-Del.) issued the following statement after voting late today for the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (H.R. 6331) which passed the Senate by a vote of 69-30:

“Today we supported a bipartisan bill that improves health care services for more than 137,000 Delaware residents enrolled in Medicare and our military heroes who rely on TRICARE, ensuring their access to care is not disrupted.

“This legislation provides $4 billion in Medicare improvements by enhancing preventive and mental health benefits, improving programs for lower-income beneficiaries, extending provisions for rural providers and reversing a 10.6 percent cut in payments to physicians so seniors can see their doctors when they need to.

“We also voted for this bill because it ensures that the roughly 32,000 military men and women in Delaware who are covered by TRICARE—which ties its reimbursement rates to the Medicare program—will continue to have access to the quality health care services they deserve.

“Both the House and Senate have now passed this bill with veto-proof majorities. The president should sign this important bill into law.”