President Bush vetoed H.R. 6331, the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008, last week. The House and Senate immediately voted to override the veto. The legislation provides for an 18 month “fix” by stopping the 10.6% reduction that was effective on July 1, 2008 and the 5.4% cut scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2009. It extends the June 2008 rates through December 31, 2008 and provides for an additional 1.1% update in 2009.
Editor’s note: A welcome relief for doctors and hospitals who find it difficult as of now to even meet their overhead. Cutting doctor fees will effect patient care, except congress does not realize this.