June 24 , 2008

 

Legislative update: House passes SGR fix, Teaching Rule reform!

 

By an overwhelming vote of 355-59, the U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday passed H.R. 6331, a bill that would stop the massive 10.6% Medicare payment cut scheduled for implementation on July 1. 

H.R. 6331, the “Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act” would avert Medicare payment cuts AND reform the Medicare anesthesiology teaching rule! 

ASA commends Ways and Means Committee chair Charles Rangel (D-NY) and Health Subcommittee chair Pete Stark (D-CA), as well as Energy and Commerce Committee chair John Dingell (D-MI), and Health Subcommittee chair Frank Pallone (D-NJ) for authoring H.R. 6331.  The bill 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 H.R. 2053, authored by Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-CA) and Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX) and cosponsored by 124 additional Representatives, 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.

U.S. Senate consideration of H.R. 6331 or similar legislation is possible for later this week. 

ASA is also grateful for the leadership of Sens. Max Baucus (D-MT) and  Charles Grassley (R-IA), who continue their efforts to advance   a Medicare bill that ASA trusts will retain the language of S. 2056, authored by Sens. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) and Jon Kyl (R-AZ), and cosponsored by 29 additional Senators.  S. 2056 is the Senate companion to H.R. 2053.

Please watch for further legislative updates, and be prepared to take action when called upon.  Your support is vital to the success of these efforts!

Roll Call vote