AARP disappointed in Senators' vote on 'Seniors Amendment'

Last night the U.S. Senate voted on the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) of 2015 (H.R. 2) that permanently replaces the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula used to calculate reimbursements to physicians under Medicare. The Senate also voted on the Cardin-Vitter “Seniors’ Amendment” which was a Key Vote for AARP.

AARP applauds the momentous bipartisan Senate vote on MACRA to repeal and replace the flawed SGR formula with an improved payment system. AARP has long advocated for a permanent SGR fix to help ensure that Medicare beneficiaries can rest assured that they’ll be able to keep seeing their physicians each year.

AARP sent a letter to each U.S. Senator urging them to support the “Seniors’ Amendment” to MACRA , based on bipartisan legislation introduced by Senators Collins (R-ME) and Cardin (D-MD). This amendment would have removed Medicare’s arbitrary cap on physical therapy, speech-language pathology, and occupational therapy services. AARP informed the Senators that we would track their individual votes on the amendment as an “AARP Key Vote” and report back to our 38 million members and the public how each Senator votes on this key amendment.

“AARP Nebraska is disappointed that Senators Fischer and Sasse voted against the Cardin–Vitter “Seniors’ Amendment,” said AARP State President Bob Eppler. “Many Medicare patients in our state, particularly stroke victims and people with Parkinson’s and Multiple Sclerosis, would have benefitted from passage of this amendment.”

AARP members can see how their Senators voted on the Cardin–Vitter “Seniors’ Amendment” by going to U.S. Senate Roll Call. AARP will publish each Senator’s ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ vote and include this information in our end-of-year legislative summary to all 38 million members at the end of the congressional session.