Senator Webb Votes To Ensure Seniors' & Military Families' Access To Health Care

Bill Averts Pay Cuts for Medicare & TRICARE Providers, Safeguarding Health Care of More Than 1.8 Million Virginians

Washington, DC – Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) supported the “Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008,” safeguarding health care access to more than a million seniors and 750,000 military families throughout Virginia. Passed today with a veto-proof majority in the Senate, the bill provides $4 billion in improvements to the Medicare program and blocks a proposed 10.6 percent cut in Medicare and TRICARE payments to doctors.

The legislation extends and improves low-income assistance programs for Medicare beneficiaries, adds new preventive benefits to the Medicare program, improves medical services in rural communities, and reduces out-of-pocket costs for mental health care.

“The Senate today voted to protect health care access to 1.8 million seniors and military families across Virginia who receive assistance through the Medicare and TRICARE programs,” said Senator Webb. “This is immensely important given that Virginia has the 3rd largest TRICARE population in the country. Reimbursement rates for medical providers of our state’s military retirees are set in accordance with the Medicare program.”

“This bill also contains important provisions to ensure that doctors are adequately paid for their services and that health care resources in rural areas are maintained,” said Webb. “I urge President Bush to support our bipartisan effort to ensure our seniors and military families receive quality, affordable healthcare.”

Under this legislation, rural communities will receive additional funding in critical areas, including FLEX grants for rural health care providers to strengthen healthcare networks and increase access to mental health services. 

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