Senate Reverses Medicare Payment Cuts
State Society Thanks Specter, Casey for Supporting Payment Increase
The US Senate on July 9, 2008, passed legislation reversing a 10.6 percent Medicare physician payment cut by a veto-proof margin of 69-30.
Both senators from Pennsylvania—Sens. Arlen Specter and Bob Casey Jr.—voted in favor of HR 6331.
“We thank Sens. Specter and Casey for doing what was right and supporting HR 6331. This bill protects access to care for 44 million Americans,” said Pennsylvania Medical Society President Peter S. Lund, MD, FACS.
State Society leaders met privately with Specter on July 7 after he voted against an earlier motion to consider the bill. The State Society also encourages members to thank Specter and Casey for listening to physicians' concerns.
HR 6331 extends a half percent payment increase through the end of 2008 and increases payments by 1.1 percent in 2009. It was passed by the House of Representatives on June 24—also by a veto-proof margin.
It now goes to President George W. Bush for his signature. He has threatened to veto the bill because some funding for the increases comes from decreased Medicare Advantage funding.
If he vetoes the bill, Congress will have to vote to override the veto.
Last Updated: 7/11/2008