WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Rodney Frelinghuysen (NJ-11) praised passage of H.R. 2 – legislation to permanently fix the broken Medicare Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula. The bipartisan plan fixes the long-standing problem of how doctors get paid for treating the 53 million Americans who depend on Medicare.

“This bipartisan legislation strengthens Medicare and provides stability for seniors and their doctors,” Frelinghuysen said.  “The legislation moves beyond the SGR to a better system that ensures that our seniors have access to their doctors and the high-quality care they deserve.”

H.R. 2 establishes the first real, structural entitlement reform in nearly two decades – offsetting all new spending without tax increases.  These reforms have long been part of Republican budgets.  For the first time, however, Democrats agreed to these reforms without demanding tax hikes – a breakthrough and a win for American seniors.

“With these structural reforms, H.R. 2 reduces the deficit over the long term,” Frelinghuysen said. “Looking 20, 30, and 40 years down the road, these reforms will produce hundreds of billions in durable savings for taxpayers.”

“Fixing SGR has been a goal of doctors, patients and their families for a long time,” he said.  “After today’s vote, the Senate and the White House have a tremendous opportunity to finish the job, and in the process, strengthen Medicare.”

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