The Texas Medical Association, which represents 43,000 doctors and medical students in the state, has withdrawn support for John Cornyn after the Senator helped block legislation that would delay a 10.6-percent cut in physicians’ Medicare fees. The Medicare bill failed on a single vote.
TEXPAC has withdrawn their support for John Cornyn after Republicans blocked a bill to shave billions of dollars from health plans that contract with the federal Medicare program and avert a pay cut for doctors.
Manuel Acosta, chairman of the medical association’s board, in a letter to Cornyn:
The Texas Medical Association Political Action Committee is outraged that you made the decision to follow the direction of the Bush Administration and voted to protect health insurance companies at the expense of America’s seniors, those with disabilities, and military families.
The core of the issue is that doctor's feel Medicare reimbursements are dangerously low and will lead to doctor's refusing new patients who are admittedly "the most vulnerable population out there."
There is talk, and then there is action. We expect our elected officials to show leadership and do the right thing. Absent that, TEXPAC has rescinded our support of your candidacy.
In typical Republican fashion, Cornyn blamed Senate Democrats and then claimed he voted against the bill because "the current physician payment system is broken" and needs to be overhauled.
The White House claims that the bill would "reduce access, benefits and choices for many of the approximately 2.25 million beneficiaries who have chosen to enroll in" privately run Medicare plans.
TEXPAC disputes this and claims the bill would avoid doctor fee cuts by getting rid of payments to teaching hospitals while imposing new requirements on fee for service plans under Medicare Advantage, the private insurance option.
John Cornyn's campaign was unavailable for comment on the rescinded endorsement.