Senate Majority Leader tries to Allow Bus Legislation to Pass

With deadlines looming, there has been much discussion between members of Congress, CMS, physicians groups, Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries and others trying to sort out a decent bill that would be fair to all in light of the Bush Medicare cuts that are proposed.

One of the latest situations to crop up is that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Democrat from Nevada is warning that he will try to stop the debate about the proposed bill to delay the 10.6% cut in pay to physicians for 18 months.  To stop the debate, he will invoke “cloture” and do what he can to let the bill pass.

There is legislation that has been introduced by Senate Finance Committee Chair Max Baucus, a Democrat from Montana that would delay the cuts from going through.  The Baucus legislation would cost $20 million dollars, but would include some positive provisions including promoting electronic prescribing by physicians, expand some other services and require Medicare to pay pharmacies that provide for Medicare recipients with prompt payment.  In addition, recipients who pay for Mental Health Services would have their copays lowered from 50% to 20%. 

Some funding would be decreased, such as funding for certain education and marketing programs to get physicians and private health insurance to participate in or to accept Medicare, as these are not as essential as many of the provisions that the proposed legislation is trying to save or enhance.

It is no secret that Medicare and as a result, Medicaid are experiencing difficulties and that, from all reports – Republican and Democrat, alike – the outgoing administration has not made it better, but have weakened it substantially.  To be fair, we can’ blame everything on this administration, and there are many things that have happened over the past decade or more that have weakened many services that should be available to the vulnerable individuals and families that need such services.

The debate may have many points of view, but there is little time left to enact some legislation to avoid eliminating even more benefits.  It is important for us to watch what is happening to the benefits and services at stake and how Congress works to block these proposed cuts from going through.  Keep on the watch.

Filed under: General-Medicare

Tags: Baucus legislation, Bush Medicare plan, medicaid, medicare benefits, Medicare Cuts