Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to override a veto on a bill that extends and expands Medicare coverage for various programs and revises regulations regarding Medicare fee-for-service programs.

Highlights:

• Increases annually the amount covered by Medicare of health care costs associated with mental, psychoneurotic, and personality disorders until 100% of related costs are covered in 2014 (Sec. 102).

• Prohibits Medicare Advantage marketing from conducting direct soliciting via telemarketing, door-to-door marketing, in health care settings, at educational activities, and from attempting to sell non-health related products at events related to Medicare Advantage plans (Sec. 103).

• Makes available an additional $100 million to aid states in giving assistance to low-income Medicare beneficiaries through September 30, 2008, and makes available a total of $600 million through December 31, 2009 (Sec. 111).

• Makes available $48.9 million for low income Medicare subsidies and Medicare Savings Program administrative costs (Sec. 113).

• Removes life insurance policy values from being factored into determining an individual’s income eligibility for Medicare low-income subsidies (Sec. 116).

• Allocates $7.5 million in federal funding for State Health Insurance Assistance Programs based on the number of eligible individuals and the number of rural beneficiaries to be used for Medicare and Medicaid services and to implement outreach programs to enroll eligible low-income individuals (Sec. 119).

• Authorizes $210 million for the Secretary of Health and Human Services to give grants to states to increase mental health and other health services to veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom living in rural areas (Sec. 121).

• Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish programs for increasing health care access and quality in rural areas (Sec. 123).

• Extends payments to physicians for treating Medicare patients at a higher rate than would otherwise be used until 2010 (Sec. 131).

• Delays the beginning of competitive acquisition programs for durable medical supplies until 2011(Sec. 154).

• Extends the deadline for Medicare coverage of ambulance services until 2010 (Sec. 146).

• Establishes the Medicare Improvement Fund to make improvements to Medicare fee-for-service programs and authorizes $19.9 billion during fiscal years 2014 through 2017 (Sec. 188).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to override a veto on a bill that extends and expands Medicare coverage for various programs and revises regulations regarding Medicare fee-for-service programs.

Highlights:

• Increases annually the amount covered by Medicare of health care costs associated with mental, psychoneurotic, and personality disorders until 100% of related costs are covered in 2014 (Sec. 102).

• Prohibits Medicare Advantage marketing from conducting direct soliciting via telemarketing, door-to-door marketing, in health care settings, at educational activities, and from attempting to sell non-health related products at events related to Medicare Advantage plans (Sec. 103).

• Makes available an additional $100 million to aid states in giving assistance to low-income Medicare beneficiaries through September 30, 2008, and makes available a total of $600 million through December 31, 2009 (Sec. 111).

• Makes available $48.9 million for low income Medicare subsidies and Medicare Savings Program administrative costs (Sec. 113).

• Removes life insurance policy values from being factored into determining an individual’s income eligibility for Medicare low-income subsidies (Sec. 116).

• Allocates $7.5 million in federal funding for State Health Insurance Assistance Programs based on the number of eligible individuals and the number of rural beneficiaries to be used for Medicare and Medicaid services and to implement outreach programs to enroll eligible low-income individuals (Sec. 119).

• Authorizes $210 million for the Secretary of Health and Human Services to give grants to states to increase mental health and other health services to veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom living in rural areas (Sec. 121).

• Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish programs for increasing health care access and quality in rural areas (Sec. 123).

• Extends payments to physicians for treating Medicare patients at a higher rate than would otherwise be used until 2010 (Sec. 131).

• Delays the beginning of competitive acquisition programs for durable medical supplies until 2011(Sec. 154).

• Extends the deadline for Medicare coverage of ambulance services until 2010 (Sec. 146).

• Establishes the Medicare Improvement Fund to make improvements to Medicare fee-for-service programs and authorizes $19.9 billion during fiscal years 2014 through 2017 (Sec. 188).

Full Bill Text

Vetoed by President George Bush

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to invoke cloture on a bill that extends and expands Medicare coverage for various programs and revises regulations regarding Medicare fee-for-service programs.

Highlights:

• Increases annually the amount covered by Medicare of health care costs associated with mental, psychoneurotic, and personality disorders until 100% of related costs are covered in 2014 (Sec. 102).

• Prohibits Medicare Advantage marketing from conducting direct soliciting via telemarketing, door-to-door marketing, in health care settings, at educational activities, and from attempting to sell non-health related products at events related to Medicare Advantage plans (Sec. 103).

• Makes available an additional $100 million to aid states in giving assistance to low-income Medicare beneficiaries through September 30, 2008, and makes available a total of $600 million through December 31, 2009 (Sec. 111).

• Makes available $48.9 million for low income Medicare subsidies and Medicare Savings Program administrative costs (Sec. 113).

• Removes life insurance policy values from being factored into determining an individual’s income eligibility for Medicare low-income subsidies (Sec. 116).

• Allocates $7.5 million in federal funding for State Health Insurance Assistance Programs based on the number of eligible individuals and the number of rural beneficiaries to be used for Medicare and Medicaid services and to implement outreach programs to enroll eligible low-income individuals (Sec. 119).

• Authorizes $210 million for the Secretary of Health and Human Services to give grants to states to increase mental health and other health services to veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom living in rural areas (Sec. 121).

• Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish programs for increasing health care access and quality in rural areas (Sec. 123).

• Extends payments to physicians for treating Medicare patients at a higher rate than would otherwise be used until 2010 (Sec. 131).

• Delays the beginning of competitive acquisition programs for durable medical supplies until 2011(Sec. 154).

• Extends the deadline for Medicare coverage of ambulance services until 2010 (Sec. 146).

• Establishes the Medicare Improvement Fund to make improvements to Medicare fee-for-service programs and authorizes $19.9 billion during fiscal years 2014 through 2017 (Sec. 188).

Full Bill Text

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that extends and expands Medicare coverage for various programs and revises regulations regarding Medicare fee-for-service programs.

Highlights:

• Increases annually the amount covered by Medicare of health care costs associated with mental, psychoneurotic, and personality disorders until 100% of related costs are covered in 2014 (Sec. 102).

• Prohibits Medicare Advantage marketing from conducting direct soliciting via telemarketing, door-to-door marketing, in health care settings, at educational activities, and from attempting to sell non-health related products at events related to Medicare Advantage plans (Sec. 103).

• Makes available an additional $100 million to aid states in giving assistance to low-income Medicare beneficiaries through September 30, 2008, and makes available a total of $600 million through December 31, 2009 (Sec. 111).

• Makes available $48.9 million for low income Medicare subsidies and Medicare Savings Program administrative costs (Sec. 113).

• Removes life insurance policy values from being factored into determining an individual’s income eligibility for Medicare low-income subsidies (Sec. 116).

• Allocates $7.5 million in federal funding for State Health Insurance Assistance Programs based on the number of eligible individuals and the number of rural beneficiaries to be used for Medicare and Medicaid services and to implement outreach programs to enroll eligible low-income individuals(Sec. 119).

• Authorizes $210 million for the Secretary of Health and Human Services to give grants to states to increase mental health and other health services to veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom living in rural areas (Sec. 121).

• Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish programs for increasing health care access and quality in rural areas (Sec. 123). 

• Extends payments to physicians for treating Medicare patients at a higher rate than would otherwise be used until 2010 (Sec. 131).

• Delays the beginning of competitive acquisition programs for durable medical supplies until 2011(Sec. 154).

• Extends the deadline for Medicare coverage of ambulance services until 2010 (Sec. 146).

• Establishes the Medicare Improvement Fund to make improvements to Medicare fee-for-service programs and authorizes $19.9 billion during fiscal years 2014 through 2017 (Sec. 188).

Full Bill Text

Full Bill Text