Ways and Means promises SGR repeal

A House Ways and Means Committee leader vowed to permanently repeal Medicare's sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula, eliminating the need for an annual "doc fix."

Health subcommittee Chairman Kevin Brady (R-Texas) said he would work with the Energy and Commerce Committee to replace the SGR with "a reliable physician reimbursement formula that rewards quality."

The latest "doc fix" was included in the year-end package to avoid the "fiscal cliff." The one-year patch prevented a 27 percent pay cut from hitting Medicare physicians. 

Lawmakers have tried for years to pass a permanent "doc fix," without success.

In his statement late Tuesday, Brady promised a push to lower healthcare overhead costs to 10 percent within five years. He also slammed President Obama's healthcare law.

"I intend to examine and shine a bright public light on the unprecedented host of new regulations and taxes in 2013 and their impact on patients and local healthcare providers," Brady said, referring to the Affordable Care Act.

"As we develop an aggressive healthcare agenda, certainly a priority must be to build support for repealing specific 'ObamaCare' provisions that increase cost and drag down hiring along Main Street."

Brady previously served as chairman of the Ways and Means Trade subcommittee.

The previous Health subcommittee chairman, former Rep. Wally Herger (R-Calif.), declined to seek reelection in 2012.

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