2014: Schweikert Effectively Voted Against Prohibiting A Bill That Replaced The Medicare Physician Reimbursement Rate Formula With A New Payment System From Eliminating Guaranteed Benefits Or Reducing Benefits For Seniors And Individuals With Disabilities. In March 2014, according to Congressional Quarterly, Schweikert voted against the "motion to recommit the bill to the House Ways and Means Committee and report it back immediately with an amendment that would prohibit the bill from reducing Medicare benefits, eliminating guaranteed health insurance benefits under the program to seniors and individuals with disabilities, or from creating a Medicare voucher plan that would provide limited payments to Medicare beneficiaries in order to purchase private health plans." The motion was rejected by a vote of 191 to 226. [House Vote 134, 3/14/14; Congressional Quarterly, 3/14/14; Congressional Actions, H.R. 4015]
2013: Schweikert Effectively Voted Against Excluding Legislation Protecting Medicare From Congressional Approval Requirements. In August 2013, according to Congressional Quarterly, Schweikert voted against the "motion to recommit the bill to the House Judiciary Committee and report it back immediately with an amendment that would exempt from the bill's congressional approval requirement rules that would [...] protect Medicare and Medicaid benefits." The House rejected the motion by a vote of 185 to 229; however, as of mid-December 2013, the Senate had taken no substantive action on the legislation. [House Vote 444, 8/2/13; Congressional Quarterly, 8/2/13; Congressional Actions, H.R. 367]
2014: Schweikert Voted Against Instructing Medicare Administrators To Reconsider The Decision-Making Process For Coverage Of Ventricular Assist Devices. In December 2014, according to Congressional Quarterly, Schweikert voted against a bill that would "instruct Medicare administrators to reconsider a decision on how the health program will cover a high-tech heart pump, known as a ventricular assist device, with an eye toward expanding the number of people awaiting transplant who may qualify. An instruction regarding the devices, known commonly as VADs, was included in the report accompanying the Labor-Health and Human Services-Education portion of the fiscal 2015 spending package (HR 83). With the language, appropriators are wading into a long running debate about who should get Medicare coverage for the devices, which are surgically connected to failing chambers, or ventricles. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in October 2013 updated the coverage policies for VADs, which Medicare began covering in 1996 as implants to help people with failing hearts survive long enough to get transplants. Appropriators have asked CMS to take a new look at whether to pay for devices for people who are undergoing an evaluation to determine candidacy for heart transplantation, and for those who might be future candidates if their health status 'may be favorably modified by the use of a ventricular assist device.'" The vote was on a motion to concur in the Senate Amendment with an Amendment. The House agreed to the motion 219 to 206. The Senate agreed to by a vote of 56 to 40. Afterwards, the amended legislation was sent to the president, who signed it into law. [House Vote 563, 12/11/14; Congressional Quarterly, 12/10/14; Congressional Actions, H.R. 83]
2021: Schweikert Voted Against Delaying Several Medicare Payment Reductions And Policies, Including The Extension Of A Temporary Payment Increase For Physicians To Grant A 3% Increase For Services Provided In 2022. In December 2021, Schweikert voted against the Protecting Medicare and American Farmers from Sequester Cuts Act which would, according to Congressional Quarterly, "delay a number of other Medicare payment reductions and policies, including to extend a temporary increase in payment amounts for physicians to provide a 3 percent increase for services furnished in 2022." The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 222-212, sent to the Senate and President, and ultimately became law. [House Vote 404, 12/7/21; Congressional Quarterly, 12/7/21; Congressional Actions, S. 610]
The Bill Would Extend "Higher Physician Reimbursements" For A Year Under The Medicare Part B Outpatient Program, But Would Drop The Increase From 3.75% To 3%. According to Congressional Quarterly, "The measure also includes a one-year extension of higher physician reimbursements under the Medicare Part B outpatient program, although the increase would drop to 3 percent from the original 3.75 percent increase enacted for 2021 (PL 116-260)." [Congressional Quarterly, 12/10/21]
Physicians Were Faced With The Possible Elimination Of A 3.75% Medicare Pay Raise That Was Extended In 2020 And Was Set To Expire In 2021. According to Politico, "Physicians are also facing the elimination of a 3.75 percent Medicare payment bump that was extended last year and expires at the end of the year." [Politico, 12/7/21]
Instead Of Extending The 3.75% Pay Increase, The Measure Would Provide Physicians With A 3% Medicare Payment Increase. According to Politico, "The bill also includes a 3 percent Medicare payment boost for doctors, rather than extending the full 3.75 percent bump." [Politico, 12/7/21]
2021: Schweikert Voted Against Delaying Several Medicare Payment Reductions And Policies, Including Delaying Phased Payment Reductions For Clinical Diagnostic Laboratory Tests For A Year And Prohibiting Reductions For 2021 And 2022 And Prohibiting Reductions Over 15% For 2023 Through 2025. In December 2021, Schweikert voted against the Protecting Medicare and American Farmers from Sequester Cuts Act which would, according to Congressional Quarterly, "delay a number of other Medicare payment reductions and policies, including to [...] delay for one year a provision that would phase in payment reductions for clinical diagnostic laboratory tests, prohibiting any reductions for 2021 and 2022 and prohibiting reductions greater than 15 percent for 2023 through 2025." The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 222-212, sent to the Senate and President, and ultimately became law. [House Vote 404, 12/7/21; Congressional Quarterly, 12/7/21; Congressional Actions, S. 610]
2021: Schweikert Voted Against Delaying Delaying Several Medicare Payment Reductions And Policies, Including Delaying The Implementation Of The Medicare Radiation Oncology Model Through 2022. In December 2021, Schweikert voted against the Protecting Medicare and American Farmers from Sequester Cuts Act which would, according to Congressional Quarterly, "delay a number of other Medicare payment reductions and policies, including to [...] delay through 2022 the implementation of the Medicare radiation oncology model." The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 222-212, sent to the Senate and President, and ultimately became law. [House Vote 404, 12/7/21; Congressional Quarterly, 12/7/21; Congressional Actions, S. 610]
2021: Schweikert Voted Against Delaying Spending Cuts To Medicare And Other Programs Subject To Sequestration That Would Be Set Off In January 2022. In December 2021, Schweikert voted against the Protecting Medicare and American Farmers from Sequester Cuts Act which would, according to Congressional Quarterly, "require budget year debit for 2022 to be rolled over to the 2033 scorecards under statutory pay-as-you-go requirements, thus delaying spending cuts to Medicare and other mandatory programs subject to sequestration that would otherwise be triggered in January." The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 222-212, sent to the Senate and President, and ultimately became law. [House Vote 404, 12/7/21; Congressional Quarterly, 12/7/21; Congressional Actions, S. 610]
The Measure Would Delay Cuts To Farm Subsidies, Other Small Programs And A 4% Sequestration Cut To Medicare Providers That Would Be Subject To Cuts Triggered In "Mid-January Under Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Rules." According to Congressional Quarterly, "The bill also delays a separate 4 percent cut to Medicare provider payments that would've kicked in mid-January under statutory pay-as-you-go rules, along with cuts to farm subsidies and other smaller programs." [Congressional Quarterly, 12/10/21]
The Measure Would Provisionally "Waive Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Rules" That Would Trigger Higher Cuts To Medicare And Greater Reductions To Price Supports For Farmers And Other Federal Benefits. According to Congressional Quarterly, "It would temporarily waive statutory pay-as-you-go rules that would require steeper Medicare cuts next year as well as major reductions in farm price supports and a host of other federal benefits." [Congressional Quarterly, 12/10/21]
The Measure Would Waive The 4% Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Cuts Until 2023. According to Politico, "The bill would delay the 4 percent PAYGO cut until 2023." [Politico, 12/7/21]
The Measure Would Prevent Sequestration Cuts To Medicare Payments And Farm Subsidies That Were A "Side Effect" Of Passing The American Rescue Plan Of 2021 Using The Reconciliation Process. According to Politico, "The bill the Senate passed Thursday would also avert another fiscal cliff, staving off billions of dollars in cuts to Medicare payments and agriculture subsidies that come as a side effect of using the budget reconciliation process Democrats employed to enact a $1.9 trillion pandemic aid package in March." [Politico, 12/9/21]
2019: Schweikert Voted For An Amendment To The FY 2020 Minibus That Provided Funding To Combat Fraud In The Medicare System. In June 2019, Schweikert voted for a bill that would, according to Congressional Quarterly, "increase by $2 million funding allocated for a Health and Human Services program to combat fraud and abuse in the Medicare system, from funds authorized by the bill to combat health care fraud and abuse." The vote was on adoption of the amendment. The House adopted the amendment by a vote of 316-103. [House Vote 311, 6/13/19; Congressional Quarterly, 6/13/19; Congressional Actions, H.Amdt. 328; Congressional Actions, H.R. 2740]
2013: Schweikert Voted Against Extending Medicare Sequester Cuts And Against Blocking A Reduction In Medicare Physician Payments. In December 2013, Schweikert voted against according to Congressional Quarterly, the "motion to recede from the House amendment and concur in the Senate amendment to the fiscal 2014 continuing resolution (H J Res 59) with an amendment that would increase the discretionary spending caps for fiscal 2014 and 2015, establish a budget for fiscal 2014 and outline the fiscal 2015 budget process. The increased spending would be offset by increased passenger air travel fees, increased federal employee pension contributions, extending sequester cuts to Medicare for two years and other changes. It also would block a scheduled cut to Medicare reimbursements for physicians." The House passed the bill by a vote of 332 to 94. The bill was subsequently approved by the Senate, and the president signed it into law. [House Vote 640, 12/12/13; Congressional Quarterly, 12/16/13; Congressional Actions, H .J. Res.59]
2013: Schweikert Effectively Voted Against Funding The Medicare Program Management Account. In September 2013, according to Congressional Quarterly, Schweikert voted against the "motion to recommit the joint resolution to the House Appropriations Committee and report it back immediately with an amendment that would fund [...] the Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services program management account [...] through Sept. 30, 2014." The vote was on the motion to recommit. The House rejected the motion by a vote of 190 to 228. [House Vote 477, 9/20/13; Congressional Quarterly, 9/20/13; Congressional Actions, H.J. Res. 59]
2013: Schweikert Effectively Voted To Reduce Funding For Medicare. In February 2013, according to Congressional Quarterly, Schweikert voted against the "motion to recommit the bill to the House Budget Committee and report it back immediately with an amendment that would replace the bill's finding section with language stating that Congress should pass legislation to replace the automatic spending cuts under the sequester scheduled to take effect in March 2013 without increasing taxes on middle-income Americans, decreasing long-term spending and maintaining Medicare and Social Security." The vote was on the motion to recommit. The House rejected the motion by a vote of 194 to 229. [House Vote 37, 2/6/13; Congressional Quarterly, 2/6/13; Congressional Actions, H.R. 444]
2021: Schweikert Voted Against Offsetting By Increasing Sequestration Percentages Over 2% In FY 2030. In December 2021, Schweikert voted against the Protecting Medicare and American Farmers from Sequester Cuts Act which would, according to Congressional Quarterly, "increase sequestration percentages above 2 percent in fiscal 2030." The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 222-212, sent to the Senate and President, and ultimately became law. [House Vote 404, 12/7/21; Congressional Quarterly, 12/7/21; Congressional Actions, S. 610]
2022: Schweikert Voted Against Increasing Funding Available For The Medicare Improvement Fund To Approximately $9 Billion. In March 2022, according to Congressional Quarterly, Schweikert voted against the Affordable Insulin Now Act, which would "increase funding available for the Medicare Improvement Fund from $5 million to approximately $9 billion. As an offset, it would delay for an additional year, through Jan. 1, 2027, implementation of a November 2020 rule ending a safe harbor provision that protects pharmacy benefit managers from federal anti-kickback laws for prescription drug rebates provided to health insurers under Medicare Part D." The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 232-193, thus the bill was sent to the Senate. The bill was passed by the Senate and both chambers are resolving differences. The bill was turned into the Continuing Appropriations and Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023 and that version ultimately became law. [House Vote 102, 3/31/22; Congressional Quarterly, 3/31/22; Congressional Actions, H.R. 6833]
2021: Schweikert Voted Against Decreasing The Funding That May Be Disbursed Of The Medicare Improvement Fund For FY 2021 From $165 Million To $101 Million. In December 2021, Schweikert voted against the Protecting Medicare and American Farmers from Sequester Cuts Act which would, according to Congressional Quarterly, "decrease from $165 million to $101 million funding that may be expended from the Medicare Improvement Fund for fiscal 2021." The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 222-212, sent to the Senate and President, and ultimately became law. [House Vote 404, 12/7/21; Congressional Quarterly, 12/7/21; Congressional Actions, S. 610]
2021: Schweikert Voted Against Providing 1% Payment Reductions From April 1 To June 30, 2022. In December 2021, Schweikert voted against the Protecting Medicare and American Farmers from Sequester Cuts Act which would, according to Congressional Quarterly, "provide for payment reductions of 1 percent for the period of April 1 through June 30, 2022." The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 222-212, sent to the Senate and President, and ultimately became law. [House Vote 404, 12/7/21; Congressional Quarterly, 12/7/21; Congressional Actions, S. 610]
2014: Schweikert Effectively Voted Against Prohibiting A Bill That Replaced The Medicare Physician Reimbursement Rate Formula With A New Payment System From Raising Premiums For Seniors And Individuals With Disabilities. In March 2014, according to Congressional Quarterly, Schweikert voted against the "motion to recommit the bill to the House Ways and Means Committee and report it back immediately with an amendment that would prohibit the bill from reducing Medicare benefits, eliminating guaranteed health insurance benefits under the program to seniors and individuals with disabilities, or from creating a Medicare voucher plan that would provide limited payments to Medicare beneficiaries in order to purchase private health plans." The motion was rejected by a vote of 191 to 226. [House Vote 134, 3/14/14; Congressional Quarterly, 3/14/14; Congressional Actions, H.R. 4015]
2021: Schweikert Voted Against Extending A Temporary Suspension Of The 2% Annual Sequester Of Medicare Payments From December 31, 2021 To March 31, 2022. In December 2021, Schweikert voted against the Protecting Medicare and American Farmers from Sequester Cuts Act which would, according to Congressional Quarterly, "extend from Dec. 31, 2021, to March 31, 2022, a temporary suspension of the 2 percent annual sequester of Medicare payments, and provide for payment reductions of 1 percent for the period of April 1 through June 30, 2022. As an offset, it would increase sequestration percentages above 2 percent in fiscal 2030." The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 222-212, sent to the Senate and President, and ultimately became law. [House Vote 404, 12/7/21; Congressional Quarterly, 12/7/21; Congressional Actions, S. 610]
The Measure Would Suspend The 2% Medicare Sequestration Cut For Three Months And Return The Cuts At 1% For The Following Three Months. According to Congressional Quarterly, "The bill includes a three-month suspension of the 2 percent Medicare 'sequester' that was set to begin Jan. 1. It would return at 1 percent for the three months following." [Congressional Quarterly, 12/10/21]
Republicans Who Supported The Measure Cited Medicare Cuts As The Main, If Not The Sole, Reason. According to Congressional Quarterly, "Most Republicans who voted for the bill cited the looming Medicare cuts as the main, if not the only, reason." [Congressional Quarterly, 12/10/21]
The Measure Would Delay Cuts To Medicare, Including Payment Reductions To Medicare Provider Reimbursements, Which Would Have Been Triggered In January 1, 2022, And Broader Medicare Cuts That Would Have Affected Farm Subsidies And Military Retirement Funds. According to The Hill, "The deal delays Medicare cuts, including reductions to provider reimbursements, that would have started on Jan. 1, as well as a broader set of Medicare cuts that would have impacted areas like farm subsidies and military retirement funds." [The Hill, 12/9/21]
Without Congressional Action, Medicare Payments To Doctors Would Decrease By Almost 10% And Hospital Payments Would Decrease By 6%. According to Politico, "Doctors could see Medicare payments decline nearly 10 percent, and hospitals 6 percent, if Congress doesn't act by the end of the year." [Politico, 12/7/21]
According To The Coalition To Protect America's Health Care, Without Congressional Action, Hospitals Would Experience Medicare Payment Cuts Of Over $14 Billion In 2022. According to Politico, "The Coalition to Protect America's Health Care, made up of hospital groups, told congressional leadership last week that a failure to act would result in more than $14 billion in total Medicare payment cuts to hospitals in 2022." [Politico, 12/7/21]
2021: Schweikert Effectively Voted Against Preventing Sequestration Cuts To Medicare. In December 2021, according to Congressional Quarterly, Schweikert voted against the "adoption of the rule (H Res 838) that would provide for floor consideration of a legislative vehicle for the fiscal 2022 defense authorization bill (S 1605), a legislative vehicle for a bill (S 610) to prevent sequestration cuts to Medicare and expedite Senate consideration of a debt limit increase [...] The rule would provide for up to one hour of general debate on each bill." The vote was on the adoption of the rule. The House adopted the rule by a vote of 219-213. [House Vote 403, 12/7/21; Congressional Quarterly, 12/7/21; Congressional Actions, S. 610; Congressional Actions, H.Res. 838]
2021: Schweikert Effectively Voted Against Preventing Sequestration Cuts To Medicare. In December 2021, according to Congressional Quarterly, Schweikert voted against the "motion to order the previous question (thus ending debate and possibility of amendment) on the rule (H Res 838) that would provide for floor consideration of a legislative vehicle for the fiscal 2022 defense authorization bill (S 1605), a legislative vehicle for a bill (S 610) to prevent sequestration cuts to Medicare and expedite Senate consideration of a debt limit increase [...] The rule would provide for up to one hour of general debate on each bill." The vote was on a motion to order the previous question. The House agreed to the motion by a vote of 218-210. [House Vote 402, 12/7/21; Congressional Quarterly, 12/7/21; Congressional Actions, S. 610; Congressional Actions, H.Res. 838]
2021: Schweikert Voted Against Extending A Temporary Suspension Of The 2% Annual Sequester Of Medicare Payments From March 31 To December 31, 2021 And Increasing Medicare Sequestration Amounts For FY 2030. In April 2021, Schweikert voted against concurring with the Senate amendment to a bill which would, according to Congressional Quarterly, "extend from March 31 to Dec. 31, 2021, a temporary suspension of the 2 percent annual sequester of Medicare payments and provide offsets by increasing Medicare sequestration amounts for fiscal 2030." The vote was on a motion to concur with the Senate amendment to the bill. The House concurred with the Senate by a vote of 384-38, sent the bill to the President, and ultimately became law. [House Vote 98, 4/13/21; Congressional Quarterly, 4/13/21; Congressional Actions, H.R. 1868]
2021: Schweikert Voted Against Extending A Temporary Suspension Of The 2% Annual Sequester Of Medicare Payments From March 31 To December 31, 2021. In March 2021, Schweikert voted against a bill which would, according to Congressional Quarterly, "extend from March 31 to Dec. 31, 2021, a temporary suspension of the 2 percent annual sequester of Medicare payments." The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 246-175, sent to the Senate and President and ultimately became law. [House Vote 96, 3/19/21; Congressional Quarterly, 3/19/21; Congressional Actions, H.R. 1868]
2021: Schweikert Effectively Voted Against Preventing Sequestration Cuts To Medicare. In March 2021, according to Congressional Quarterly, voted for the "Smith, R-Mo., motion to recommit the bill to the House Budget Committee." The vote was on a motion to recommit. The House rejected the motion by a vote of 202-216. [House Vote 95, 3/19/21; Congressional Quarterly, 3/19/21; Congressional Actions, H.R. 1868]
2021: Schweikert Effectively Voted Against Preventing Mandatory Sequestration Cuts. In March 2021, according to Congressional Quarterly, Schweikert voted against the "adoption of the rule that would provide for House floor consideration of [...] a bill related to preventing mandatory spending cuts due to sequestration (HR 1868). The rule would provide for up to one hour of debate on each of the five measures." The vote was on the adoption of the rule. The House adopted the rule by a vote of 216-204. [House Vote 79, 3/16/21; Congressional Quarterly, 3/16/21; Congressional Actions, H.R. 1868; Congressional Actions, H.Res. 233]
2021: Schweikert Effectively Voted Against Preventing Mandatory Sequestration Cuts. In March 2021, according to Congressional Quarterly, Schweikert voted against the "motion to order the previous question (thus ending debate and possibility of amendment) on the rule (H Res 233) that would provide for House floor consideration of [...] a bill related to preventing mandatory spending cuts due to sequestration (HR 1868). The rule would provide for up to one hour of debate on each of the five measures." The vote was on a motion to order the previous question. The House agreed to the motion by a vote of 212-200. [House Vote 78, 3/16/21; Congressional Quarterly, 3/16/21; Congressional Actions, H.R. 1868; Congressional Actions, H.Res. 233]
2014: Schweikert Voted Against Increasing Levies On Tax Delinquent Medicare Providers. In July 2014, according to Congressional Quarterly, Schweikert voted for the "motion to disagree to the Senate amendments to the Highway Trust Fund reauthorization bill that would extend federal-aid highway and transit programs through Dec. 19, 2014, and transfer roughly $8 billion in other federal funds to the Highway Trust Fund. It would offset costs by extending customs fees and boosting tax compliance, including requiring additional information on tax returns relating to mortgage interest, penalizing those who file for child tax credits without meeting certain requirements and increasing levies on tax delinquent Medicare service providers." The vote was on the motion to disagree with the Senate amendment. The House agreed to the motion by a vote of 272 to 150. [House Vote 473, 7/31/14; Congressional Quarterly, 7/31/14; Congressional Actions, H.R. 5021]
2021: Schweikert Voted Against Modifying A Deadline For Payment Changes For Rural Clinics Enrolled In Medicare. In April 2021, Schweikert voted against concurring with the Senate amendment to a bill which would, according to Congressional Quarterly, "modify a deadline for changes to payments for rural health clinics enrolled in Medicare." The vote was on a motion to concur with the Senate amendment to the bill. The House concurred with the Senate by a vote of 384-38, sent the bill to the President, and ultimately became law. [House Vote 98, 4/13/21; Congressional Quarterly, 4/13/21; Congressional Actions, H.R. 1868]
2014: Schweikert Effectively Voted Against Prohibiting A Bill That Replaced The Medicare Physician Reimbursement Rate Formula With A New Payment System From Establishing A Medicare Voucher Program. In March 2014, according to Congressional Quarterly, Schweikert voted against the "motion to recommit the bill to the House Ways and Means Committee and report it back immediately with an amendment that would prohibit the bill from reducing Medicare benefits, eliminating guaranteed health insurance benefits under the program to seniors and individuals with disabilities, or from creating a Medicare voucher plan that would provide limited payments to Medicare beneficiaries in order to purchase private health plans." The motion was rejected by a vote of 191 to 226. [House Vote 134, 3/14/14; Congressional Quarterly, 3/14/14; Congressional Actions, H.R. 4015]
2013: Schweikert Effectively Voted Against Prohibiting The Use Of Funds To Establish A Medicare Voucher System. In September 2013, according to Congressional Quarterly, Schweikert voted against the "motion to recommit the joint resolution to the House Appropriations Committee and report it back immediately with an amendment that would [...] bar the use of funds provided by the bill [...] to establish a Medicare voucher plan that provides limited payments to purchase health care in the private sector." The vote was on the motion to recommit. The House rejected the motion by a vote of 190 to 228. [House Vote 477, 9/20/13; Congressional Quarterly, 9/20/13; Congressional Actions, H.J. Res. 59]