June 25 , 2008

ALERT:

House bill now moves to Senate—

Senate to vote on SGR and Teaching Rule

Call your Senators and urge a “YES” vote on H.R. 6331 

The Senate is gearing up to vote on H.R. 6331, a bill that would stop the massive 10.6% Medicare payment cut scheduled for implementation on July 1, and that would also reform the Medicare anesthesiology teaching rule.  The bill overwhelmingly passed the U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday, June 24 by a vote of 355-59.

Every ASA member must take immediate action urging support for H.R. 6331.  Your support is vital to the success of these efforts, and to maintain the momentum of the House vote!

THIS IS EXPECTED TO BE THE LAST OPPORTUNITY BEFORE JULY 1 TO AVERT SGR CUTS AND REFORM THE MEDICARE ANESTHESIOLOGY TEACHING RULE.  Please take action today:

• Call the Capitol Switchboard, (202) 224-3121.
• Ask to speak to your Senators.  If you do not know your Senators, simply provide your state to the Capitol Switchboard, and the operator will connect you.
• Urge your Senators to vote “YES” on H.R. 6331.

Building on the foundation of S. 3101, introduced by Sens. Max Baucus (D-MT) and Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and previously considered by the U.S. Senate, H.R. 6331 includes many critical Medicare provisions, several of which are vital to anesthesiology.  Of particular importance, the legislation:

• Blocks Medicare payment cuts for 18 months through December 31, 2009 and provides a 1.1% positive Medicare payment update for 2009.  The bill’s 18-month fix provides time for Congress to develop an alternative update mechanism to address the additional Medicare payment cuts still projected for 2010 and beyond.
• Includes the language of S. 2056, authored by Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) and Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ), with bipartisan cosponsorship from 29 additional Senators, that restores full Medicare payment to anesthesiology teaching programs.
• Extends the 1.0 floor on the work GPCI through December 31, 2009.
• Increases the PQRI bonus to 2.0% for 2009 and 2010 for those participating in the program.

CALL YOUR SENATORS NOW!  Tell them that this is a crucial vote for medicine and that you expect a “yes” vote on H.R. 6331.