Democrats Successful in Stopping Big Cut in Medicare
Pay for Physicians
Bill passed with help of only three Republicans,
signed by President last night
April 16, 2010 Senior citizens can take their
annual sigh of relief that a Medicare pay cut for physicians has once
again been avoided. The giant pay cut over 21 percent had the
potential of causing many doctors to no longer care for Medicare
patients. The bill stopping this years pay cut was signed by President
Barack Obama last night after Democrats won a hard fought battle with
Republicans. Three Republican senators did vote with the winning
Democrats.
The bill that carried the provision to stop the pay
reduction was primarily aimed at extending extra unemployment benefits
until June 1. The key benefit helps laid-off workers buy health
insurance through COBRA.
The bill passed 59-38. "Three Republicans voted
with Democrats on the bill: George Voinovich of Ohio and Olympia Snowe
and Susan Collins of Maine. Three Democrats did not vote: Evan Bayh of
Indiana, Bill Nelson of Florida and Mark Warner of Virginia," according
to
USA Today .
The Medicare pay reduction was to begin on April 1,
but the Obama Administration delayed Medicare payments to doctors until
April 15, in an effort to avoid the cut.
Those cuts are mandated by a law that links
Medicare Part B reimbursements to increases in the gross domestic
product. This formula has, in recent years, resulted in a reduction in
the rates doctors are paid for Medicare and TRICARE services. Each year
there is a battle in Congress to restore the cuts and the physicians
have regularly been the winners.
This year, however, the cut was much larger than
recommended in other years. The American Medical Association was warning
that senior citizens would be hit hard if the cut was enacted, because
many doctors would stop treating Medicare and TRICARE patients.
The Democrats have been fighting hard to pass a
measure to delay the pay cut, while Republicans have fought just as hard
to enforce the reduction. Their opposition was based on the cost to the
government if the pay cut was aborted.
Keep up with the latest news for senior citizens, baby
boomers
April 16, 2010 Senior citizens can take their
annual sigh of relief that a Medicare pay cut for physicians has once
again been avoided. The giant pay cut over 21 percent had the
potential of causing many doctors to no longer care for Medicare
patients. The bill stopping this years pay cut was signed by President
Barack Obama last night after Democrats won a hard fought battle with
Republicans. Three Republican senators did vote with the winning
Democrats.
