ORTIZ VOTES TO PASS MEDICARE PREMIUM FAIRNESS ACT

ORTIZ VOTES TO PASS MEDICARE PREMIUM FAIRNESS ACT

WASHINGTON--Today, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 3631, The Medicare Premium Fairness Act, which passed overwhelmingly with a bipartisan vote of 406-18, with U.S. Rep. Solomon P. Ortiz (TX-27) voting in favor of the bill.

H.R. 3631 would extend the “hold harmless” policy to protect all Medicare enrollees from an increase larger than the Social Security COLA, so that the Medicare 2010 Part B premiums will remain at $96.40 and no seniors will see a cut in their Social Security checks. The bill will protect 11 million seniors and cash-strapped states from increases in their 2010 Medicare Part B premiums during our economic downturn.

“Although this constitutes a temporary fix in the process of improving our health care system and lowering out-of-pocket expenses for seniors, I am pleased to continue my advocacy on behalf of this population by voting for this legislation which is paid in full,” Ortiz said. “I, along with my colleagues in Congress, remain dedicated to our pledge to implement deficit-neutral policies.”

The bill is endorsed by AARP, The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare (NCPSSM), the Center for Medicare Advocacy (CMA), Alliance for Retired Americans, National Association of State Medicaid Directors, the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD), Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, and the National Active and Retired Federal Employees (NARFE) Association.

The bill now goes for consideration by the Senate.