Sen. Kennedy Leaves Sick Bed to
Stop Medicare Pay Cut for Physicians, McCain No Show
Kenney helps inspire veto-proof majority to pass
bill that failed before July 4
Below Story:
> How each
Senator Voted
> What the bill
will do
July 9, 2008 – There was no drama lacking today as
the Senate managed to pass a bill to stop Medicare from cutting
physician’s pay by over 10 percent. There was the unexpected appearance
of Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., who came to help pass the bill and
there was the expected lack of appearance and no vote by one Senator –
John McCain.
The Democrats not only managed to pass the bill,
they can also send it to the president with a veto-proof majority. The
bill actually passed on a voice vote after a 69-30 vote cut off debate
and cleared the way for a vote. Only 67 votes were needed to override a
veto.
It was a major victory for Democrats and America’s
physicians who treat Medicare patients.
The Democrats started the day saying they needed
just one vote. The lack of one vote stopped them from passing the bill
prior to the July 4 recess. Sen. McCain failed to vote then, too, and it
was his vote the Democrats targeted, unsuccessfully.
Instead, it was one of their own, Sen. Kennedy who
missed the first vote due to his brain tumor treatment, but appeared
today to provide the needed vote.
Kennedy was greeted with applause from Democrats
and Republicans.
A statement issued by Kennedy said, "I return to
the Senate today to keep a promise to our senior citizens - and that's
to protect Medicare. Win, lose or draw, I wanted to be here. I wasn't
going to take the chance that my vote could make the difference."
Sen. Barack Obama, the presumed Democratic nominee
for president, voted for the bill and said it is a “major step forward”
in meeting the needs of senior citizens and military families across the
U.S.
The American Medical Association had fought hard to
stop the pay cut and had launched an extensive advertising campaign
targeting several Republican Senators.
Five of those senators targeted by the AMA - John
Cornyn, R-Texas, Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, Bob Corker, R-Tenn.,
Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., and Arlen Specter, R-Pa. - switched and voted
in favor of the bill, according to a report by Dow Jones.
Other Republicans switching their votes to favor
the bill included Sens. John Warner, R-Va., Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., Mel
Martinez, R-Fla., and Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga.
"Today the American Medical Association celebrates
that the Senate heard the voices of patients and physicians and voted to
stop Medicare physician payment cuts that would have hurt seniors’
access to care by a bipartisan, veto-proof majority of 69 to 30. We
especially appreciate the heroic efforts of Sen. Edward Kennedy, who
made this critical vote his first after his surgery,” said J. James
Rohack, M.D., President-elect, American Medical Association.
“We also applaud those senators who put patients
first and voted yes even though they had concerns about the process or
some of the bill’s provisions.
"Now we – along with seniors, the disabled, and
military families – call on President Bush to sign this bill into law to
protect access to health care for so many deserving Americans.
"On July 1, a Medicare physician payment cut of
10.6 percent went into effect, putting access to health care for
seniors, the disabled and military families at risk. In the first week
of July, tens of thousands of patients and physicians contacted their
senators and urged them to vote for HR 6331. Those voices were heard and
heeded.
"Just two weeks ago, the same bill – HR 6331 –
passed the House of Representatives by an overwhelming, bipartisan,
veto-proof majority of 355 to 59.
"Now we urge President Bush to hear and heed the
voices of seniors, the disabled and military families – and sign the
bill into law for the health of America." “They say that life doesn’t
give you second chances. The Senate got a big one this week, and AARP
applauds the bipartisan majority of Senators who voted to pass a bill
that would protect and improve Medicare for the 44 million Americans who
depend on it. This bill would allow people in Medicare to maintain
access to their doctors, improve benefits for low-income, prevention,
and mental health programs, and boost quality through national
e-prescribing,” said Bill Novelli, AARP’s Chief Executive Officer.
H.R. 6331
The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act:
Making Medicare Work Better for All America’s Seniors
Forty-four million American seniors depend on the
Medicare program for all or part of their health care. Medicare rules
have a big influence on seniors’ access to care, and on the quality of
the care they receive. H.R. 6331, the Medicare Improvements for Patients
and Providers Act, seeks to make Medicare work better for every single
American senior – and pays particular attention to the needs of those
living in rural areas, and seniors with low incomes and less access to
health care.
The bill provides approximately $4 billion in
beneficiary improvements, as follows:
● Increased Coverage for Preventive Health Care:
Preventive health care services can catch health problems before they
become health catastrophes. To help beneficiaries identify medical
conditions or risk factors early, H.R. 6331 will allow preventive
services not currently covered to be added to the program, as long as
they are recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and
approved through regular regulatory channels.
● More Affordable Mental Health Care: Seniors
can be particularly prone to depression and other mental health
problems, but Medicare currently requires a much higher co-payment for
mental health services – 50 percent – than the 20 percent required for
physical health care services. H.R. 6331 lowers co-payments for seniors’
mental health services until they match other co-pays – making sure that
seniors can afford the screening and treatment they need. The bill also
expands the drug benefit’s coverage to include benzodiazepines and
barbiturates used for mental health treatment.
● Help for Seniors in Need: Although Medicare
pays many health costs for seniors, some low-income beneficiaries need
extra help to afford even basic care. H.R. 6331 will help more
low-income seniors access the subsidies and assistance that make
Medicare more affordable. Improvements include:
>> Extension of the Qualified Individuals (QI)
Program: The QI program pays outpatient care premiums for seniors with
incomes just above the poverty level. The bill extends the QI program
and ensures sufficient funding through 2009.
>> Changes to the Medicare Savings Program (MSP)
assets test: To receive subsidies through MSP, Medicare enrollees must
prove they can’t afford the premiums, co-payments, and deductibles that
beneficiaries are asked to pay. The bill increases the level of savings
that MSP applicants may have and still qualify for help. Additionally,
the value of life insurance policies or financial help from churches or
family members will not count against a senior’s eligibility for
assistance.
>> Elimination of Drug Benefit Penalty: Seniors
who fail to enroll in the Medicare drug benefit in a timely manner get
hit with a premium penalty that lasts the rest of their lives. The bill
allows a special enrollment period for low-income seniors to choose a
drug benefit plan, or private Medicare plan with drug coverage.
● Measures to Help All Seniors Use Medicare
Better: Medicare is meant for seniors, but the program can be confusing
– particularly for seniors who need additional help to afford enrollment
at all. The bill enlists Social Security to reach out to low-income
seniors who need particular assistance – and provides $25 million to
state and local programs that can help any senior navigate Medicare.
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