Utah Republican Party

WASHINGTON – Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, spoke out today against the $465 billion cuts in Medicare that are proposed in the misnamed Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (H.R. 3590) now under consideration in the Senate.

Speaking on the Senate floor, Hatch said taking money from Medicare, which is already headed toward insolvency, and using that money to fund another government program “is irresponsible.”

“Again, the Reid bill cuts Medicare to create a new government entitlement program,” Hatch added. “More specifically, the Reid bill will cut nearly $135 billion from hospitals; $118 billion from Medicare Advantage; almost $15 billion from nursing homes; more than $40 billion from home health care agencies; and close to $8 billion from hospice providers. These cuts will threaten beneficiary access to care as Medicare providers find it more and more challenging to provide health services to Medicare patients …

“I cannot support any bill that would jeopardize health care coverage for Medicare beneficiaries and I truly believe if the bill before the Senate becomes law, Medicare beneficiaries’ health care coverage could be in serious trouble,” Hatch continued. “We owe it to the 43 million Americans – seniors and the disabled who depend on Medicare to reject the nonsensical Medicare cuts included in the Reid bill. We must have better solutions that will not hinder their ability to see the doctor of their choice.”