|
From the NEW YORK TIMES:
The Senate has failed to take up legislation that would have
averted a 10 percent cut in Medicare payments to doctors.
ll would cancel the 10 percent cut scheduled to occur July 1 and
would increase Medicare The bill would cancel the 10 percent cut
scheduled to occur July 1 and would increase Medicare payments to
doctors by 1.1 percent in January. Republican senators blocked
efforts by Democrats to call up the bill, which was approved June 24
in the House by an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 355 to 59,
reported the New York Times. President Bush had threatened to veto
the bill, in part because it would reduce federal payments to
private Medicare Advantage plans, offered by insurers like Humana,
UnitedHealth and Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies, the Times
noted. Lawmakers are leaving town this week for the Fourth of July
holiday and when they return they could increase doctors' payments
retroactively, but there is no guarantee, the Times added.
(SOURCE: New York Times, June 27, 2008)
Throughout next week, APMA members are urged to contact
District offices of Senators who voted against HR 6331 to express
their disappointment and urge a resolution as soon as Congress
reconvenes the week of July 8. Calls of appreciation to Senators who
voted to pass the measure are also recommended. DC and district
phone numbers can be found at
www.senate.gov
("Find Your Senators" in the upper right) or on the APMA Federal
e-Advocacy Web site by clicking on the Senators' photos after log
in. |