WASHINGTON - September 29 - A bipartisan group of lawmakers led by Congressman Kucinich (D-OH) and Congressman LaTourette (R-OH) sent a letter late last night to the Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee asking them to move a bill, under suspension of the rules, immediately to the House floor to extend The Qualified Individual (QI-1) program under Medicare Part B. QI-1 is set to expire on Friday if Congress does not act.

The Qualified Individual (QI-1) program pays the monthly Medicare part B premium for beneficiaries with incomes between 120% and 135% of federal poverty level that are not otherwise eligible for Medicaid. If QI-1 expires, over 160,000 low-income seniors and those with disabilities will lose this crucial assistance on which they rely to cover their health care costs.

In their letter, the group asked that H.R. 3800, the Kucinich-LaTourette bill, be moved immediately onto the suspension calendar. HR 3800 reauthorizes QI-1 for one year, as was done on a bipartisan basis last year. Last year, it passed the Senate without amendment and passed the House by a voice vote.

In the letter the group states that seniors, “deserve better than to lose the benefit when the issue enjoys strong bipartisan support.”

Joining Kucinich and LaTourette on the letter were Congressman John Conyers and Congressman John McHugh.

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