TOMORROW: SUNUNU'S DECIDING VOTE FOR "MEDICARE MELTDOWN" TAKES EFFECT

Last week Sununu backed Bush and cast deciding vote against correcting Medicare reimbursement rates

(Manchester, NH) - John Sununu's deciding vote last week against stopping a 10% fee cut for doctors who treat patients under Medicare will take effect tomorrow, resulting in what the American Medical Association calls a "Medicare meltdown." [New York Times, 6/30/08] Last Friday, John Sununu voted with George Bush and cast the deciding vote against the reimbursement rate correction, which means many doctors will reduce the number of Medicare patients they see, making health care less accessible to over 40 million seniors who use the program.

"John Sununu has voted with George Bush 90% of the time, and now his loyalty to Bush is endangering access to health care for over 180,000 New Hampshire seniors who are enrolled in Medicare," said Alex Reese, press secretary for the NHDP's Coordinated Campaign. "Between the House and Senate, 137 Republicans joined Democrats to protect seniors' access to health care -- but John Sununu stayed loyal to George Bush. Standing up for Bush and abandoning New Hampshire's seniors is why John Sununu is part of the problem."

The proposal would have prevented a 10% cut to the rate that Medicare pays doctors who see patients that are enrolled in the plan. John Sununu cast the deciding vote against the proposal in the Senate, meaning doctors will cut back on the number of patients they treat through Medicare, limiting seniors' access to health care.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the bill by an overwhelming vote of 355-59 reflecting broad bipartisan appeal and support from 129 Republicans. But Sununu voted with George Bush, and he cast the deciding vote to block the proposal.