Pallone’s Proposal to Fix Medicare Doctor Payment System Gains Momentum

News Release 7/23/13

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr.’s (NJ-06) bipartisan proposal to fix the long-plagued Medicare doctor payment system, the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR), passed the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health. Pallone is ranking Democrat for the subcommittee and sponsored the bill upon hearing from thousands of seniors at events, meetings and telephone town halls about their concerns of losing their doctors due to the flawed law.

“We need to transform our current health care payment system from one that rewards volume to one that produces improved value through a focus on quality, patient outcomes, and efficiency, and this proposal builds on the mission of the Affordable Care Act to do just that,” said Pallone. “When I speak with seniors in my district, they are worried that they will be forced to change doctors due to the uncertainty in the system, but this proposal would help to end uncertainty and improve and strengthen Medicare.”

Pallone’s bill takes Congress a step closer to resolving a many years-long problem that has threatened the ability of doctors to continue to treat Medicare patients. Pallone, who was a principal author of President Obama’s landmark health care reform bill, the Affordable Care Act, reached across party lines to develop this agreement on the SGR with House Republicans, including Congressman Michael Burgess of Texas, who serves as the Health Subcommittee’s Vice Chair.

The bill repeals the flawed current SGR system and replaces it with a stable period of payments, giving certainty to doctors and patients alike. It would allow physicians to continue to provide health services without fear of losing compensation. Previously, Congress has passed a variety of stop-gap measures to prevent dramatic cuts to the formula every year for nearly a decade. Instead of looming cuts, doctors will be rewarded for quality of care they provide to Medicare beneficiaries.

“This proposal is a great step in the right direction to reforming how we pay doctors in our health care system, and I’m pleased to see it gain bipartisan support and momentum in Congress. I will continue working with members of Congress on both sides of the aisle as the process moves forward,” added Pallone.

Work Begins on Long Needed Beach Replenishment Project in Monmouth Beach

News Release 7/25/13

LONG BRANCH – Today, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) was joined by Monmouth Beach Mayor Susan Howard, Sea Bright Councilman Reed Murphy and Colonel Paul Owen, Commander of the Army Corps of Engineers New York District at the Monmouth Beach Bathing Pavilion to praise the progress of the beach replenishment project that has begun in Monmouth Beach and will proceed to Sea Bright. This work represents a portion of the larger Army Corps of Engineers beach replenishment project covering a majority of the beaches from Sea Bright to Manasquan. Pallone fought for robust funding in the Sandy aid package passed by Congress, and over $100 million was allocated from that bill for this long needed project.

“The dredging equipment in Monmouth Beach today represents a great victory for our Jersey Shore beaches, which, for years, have desperately needed attention that was made worse by Sandy,” said Pallone. “Our beaches are a fundamental part of life here on the shore, both for residents to enjoy and also to drive tourism. From Sea Bright to Manasquan, we will reap the benefits of this investment in our beaches for years to come.”

“The Army Corps of Engineers is pleased to be carrying out this emergency beach repair and restoration work which will mitigate the impacts of future storms” said New York District Commander Col. Paul E. Owen. “This work in Sea Bright and MonmouthBeach is the first part of a larger project that will restore beaches from Sea Bright to Manasquan. In addition to providing beach erosion control this work also helps the region heal from the impacts of Hurricane Sandy by restoring an important and central element to these coastal communities.”

Pallone and the Army Corps of Engineers announced today further details regarding the timeline for the beach replenishment project which will be completed through four contracts. The contract for the Long Branch portion will be awarded in mid-August, and the contract for the Asbury to Avon portion will be awarded in early September. The contract for Belmar to Manasquan will be awarded this week. The Army Corps estimates that the entire undertaking will be complete by the beginning of next year.

In June, Pallone announced that the Army Corps of Engineers awarded a $25 million contract for the Sea Bright and Monmouth Beach portion to Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company, LLC. The contractor will be using 2.5 million cubic yards of sand and must complete the project within 175 days after it starts.

The Sea Bright to Manasquan project is the largest beach nourishment project ever undertaken by the Army Corps of Engineers and the world’s biggest beach-fill project, in terms of sand volume. Once completed, the greater protective barrier between the coastal communities and the ocean will reduce the risk of flooding and storm related damages.

Pallone Announces Nearly $1.4 Million Grant to Staff Up Edison Fire Department

News Release 7/25/13

LONG BRANCH – Today, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) announced that the Township of Edison’s Division of Fire has been awarded $1,392,880 in federal funding from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through its Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response program (SAFER), an initiative designed to strengthen the nation’s preparedness and ability to respond to fire and fire-related hazards.

“This grant will go directly towards Edison’s salary budget for firefighters, allowing the town to increase staff and ensure that Edison is well equipped with the number of firefighters it needs to protect residents,” Pallone said. “Fire departments are too important to our communities to be under-staffed, and with this grant, Edison will be more prepared and better able to respond during an emergency.”

“The award of $1.392 million in SAFER grants gives EdisonTownship the opportunity to increase the number new firefighters to our ranks with no additional cost to the taxpayers for a period of two years,” said Township Mayor Antonia Ricicliano. “I’d like to thank Congressman Pallone and his staff for assisting us in securing this grant.”

The SAFER grant program aims to enhance the ability of our nation’s fire departments to attain and maintain 24-hour staffing. Grants are awarded directly to fire departments to help increase the number of frontline firefighters, and to rehire firefighters who were laid-off due to the economy.

This fiscal year, DHS will award approximately $320 million directly to fire departments and volunteer support groups through the SAFER grant program.

Rep. Pallone Statement on World Hepatitis Day

News Release 7/28/13

LONG BRANCH – Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06), top Democrat on the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health released the following statement on World Hepatitis Day:

“Hepatitis C is an epidemic gone widely unrecognized in the United States and is disproportionally affecting Baby Boomers (Americans born between 1945 and 1965). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Baby Boomers are five times as likely to be infected with Hepatitis C. Most people do not know they are infected and do not seek treatment, thus it is imperative that we increase awareness so more people can get tested, avoiding serious health risk and even death. The CDC recommends that all adults over age 48 get tested for Hepatitis C, as well as those who received blood transfusion or organ donations before 1992.

“Early diagnosis of Hepatitis C is critical. The longer the virus goes undetected, the greater a person’s risk of transmitting the virus to others, as well as developing serious liver disease, including liver cancer and cirrhosis. So if you are a Baby Boomer, get tested and encourage your loved ones to do the same.”