Press Releases

Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) released the following statement today after the House passed H.R. 2 to repeal the sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula and extend the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP):

“For too long, the SGR has threatened access to care for millions of our seniors and servicemembers. I voted for this bipartisan legislation because it permanently repeals the SGR and puts Medicare and TRICARE on a more sustainable path,” DelBene said. “While this isn’t how I would have written the agreement, I’m pleased both sides came together to craft a solution that has eluded us for years, especially at a time when Congress struggles to find consensus on many issues facing our nation.”

H.R. 2, which passed the House on a 392-37 vote, repeals the flawed SGR formula and reforms the Medicare physician payment system. For more than a decade, Congress has been forced to enact short-term patches to prevent the SGR from cutting physician payments by as much as 20 percent – a cut so deep that many doctors would not be able to continue seeing Medicare patients.

The legislation also extends CHIP through Sept. 30, 2017, provides $7.2 billion for community health centers and extends funding for the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) program through fiscal year 2017.

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