CASTRO STATEMENT ON PASSAGE OF MEDICARE ACCESS AND CHIP REAUTHORIZATION ACT
Washington, D.C. – Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) today issued the following statement after voting in favor of the bipartisan Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015. The measure passed the House of Representatives with a bipartisan vote of 392-37.
“Passage of this bipartisan legislation marks significant progress for American seniors, children, and families who will now have more secure access to healthcare. Implementing a permanent solution that does away with the current, flawed Medicare physician payment system brings certainty to physicians and low-income seniors and strengthens quality of care. The two-year extension of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) ensures uninsured young people receive the healthcare they need and provides parents with peace of mind. The legislation also includes much-needed funding for community healthcare centers in underserved areas.
“Congressional leaders did an excellent job finding common ground, but there is room for improvement in this bill. A four-year CHIP extension is preferable to a two-year extension, and ideally the legislation would be more fully paid-for to avoid adding to the deficit. But while it isn’t perfect, this compromise shows that when push comes to shove, Congress can in fact come together, find agreement, and pass legislation that helps Americans live healthier, more secure lives.”
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