“Every Iowan deserves access to quality health care from a doctor they trust."

Washington, DC – Rep. Bruce Braley (D-Iowa) released the following statement today in response to a new study from the American Medical Association that shows geographic disparities in Medicare reimbursements are severely flawed. According to the study, released Thursday, there are no geographic physician practice expense differences.  Throughout the health care reform debate, Braley has been a strong advocate of eliminating unfair and inefficient disparities in Medicare reimbursement rates based on geography.

"Every Iowan deserves access to quality health care from a doctor they trust," Braley said.  "This study validates what we have known for far too long: Iowa’s medical providers have not been receiving the resources they need to provide high-quality, low-cost medical care to Iowa’s families. I am proud that the health care reform bill will end these practices and increase Medicare reimbursement rates to Iowa's doctors, making Iowa a more attractive place for doctors to settle and practice."

Braley has been a champion of measures in the House of Representatives to address unfair and inefficient geographic disparities and reform the Medicare system to one that reimburses for the high-quality, low-cost health care that Iowa providers currently provide.  The House health care reform bill will finally address these inequities and has the potential to reform our entire Medicare system to one that reimburses for high-quality, low-cost health outcomes.