For Immediate Release                                             Contact: Judith Stein

July 16, 2008                                                                             Executive Director

                                                                                                  (860) 456-7790

The Center for Medicare Advocacy applauds the courageous members of Congress who passed H.R. 6331, the "Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008."

"This legislation preserves the most important choice for Medicare beneficiaries - the choice of doctor," said Judith Stein, executive director of the Center for Medicare Advocacy.  "Had the physicians' pay cut been allowed to go into effect, Medicare beneficiaries would have been left without care.  The President's veto would have cut doctors’ pay for the sake of preserving all the unfair overpayments to private insurers."

The new legislation makes significant improvements in care for all Medicare beneficiaries.  It reduces the amount they will have to pay for Medicare-covered mental health services, and makes it easier for Medicare to approve coverage for new preventive services.  The Act protects beneficiaries with low incomes by extending the Qualified Individual (QI) program that helps them pay for their Part B premiums and by making much needed changes to the definitions of income and assets for these assistance programs.

"The bipartisan efforts that saved H.R. 6331 are a message to the country that Congress, despite the many obstacles placed in its path, values Medicare and cares about the health and well-being of older and disabled people," says Ms. Stein.  "We hope this is the beginning of real reform."

Judith Stein is available for comment.