Senate Passes Bill Stopping Medicare Cuts to Doctors      

There is good news today for doctors who treat Medicare recipients, and for those recipients who are their patients. 

Congress and the Bush Administration have been playing tug of war regarding proposed 10.6% cuts in payments to doctors treating patients on Medicare.  Doctors have said that they might have to stop treating these particular patients if the cuts went into effect, because it would just be too costly for them.  As Congress went into recess for the 4th of July break, it looked like those predictions would have to come true, because a block of the cut had not been achieved.

Today, however, is a different day.  The Senate voted over 2 to 1 to pass the bill which halts the cuts, giving enough time to explore the situation further and try to come up with a solution that will work for all involved. 

The bill called “The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008” not only halts these cuts to doctors, ensuring that for the next 18 months or more, patients and doctors can continue their relationships, but also institutes a small pay increase of 1.1% to doctors in 2009 and bolsters preventative and mental health care benefits, as well.

This has been a bitterly contested issue, and the House already passed the measure.  The vote on this issue is so important that Barak Obama came off the campaign trail to be present for it, and Senator Edward Kennedy, who has been very ill battling brain cancer, was also present for the vote. 

The passing of this legislation will help millions of Medicare recipients and thousands of doctors who treat them from having to eliminate their treatment.  It is essential since there are not enough doctors who treat Medicare recipients as is, and the potential loss of thousands more would leave some of the most vulnerable patients without a personal physician.

For now, at least, everyone can breath a sigh of relief.  Given enough time to work with the situation, Congress may be able to create a long-term solution to keep doctors on board and help patients keep the quality of care they need.

Entry Filed under: General-Medicare