Kennedy Supports H.R. 6331 the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008
Press Release
Kennedy Supports H.R. 6331 The Medicare Improvements For Patients And Providers Act of 2008
Congressman Patrick Kennedy supports H.R. 6331, The Medicare Improvements For Patients and Providers Act, a companion bill to S. 3101a bill sponsored by Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT).
The bill contains the bulk of S. 3101, and makes further improvements including a delay of 18 months for the competitive bidding program for Durable Medical Equipment (DMEPOS). Like the Baucus bill, it prevents a 10.6 percent pay cut to physicians that is scheduled to take place on July 1, and provides a 1.1 percent update starting January 1, 2009. The bill also includes important beneficiary improvements such as Medicare mental health parity, improved preventive coverage, and enhanced assistance for low-income beneficiaries.
"While this bill doesn't finish the job, it's a step in the right direction by providing seniors and their physicians with the immediate support they need," said Congressman Kennedy. "We owe it to beneficiaries and providers to make these improvements to the program now and to prevent these cuts from going through. While I am pleased that this bill passed with overwhelming support, it is my hope that Congress will soon pass a long-term solution to prevent continued last minute fixes to Medicare physician reimbursements."
H.R. 6331 includes the following provisions of S. 3101:
* Prevents the 10.6 percent pay cut to physicians scheduled to take effect July 1, with rates holding steady for the rest of 2008, and a 1.1 percent update for 2009;
* Improves and extends payments to rural providers;
* Provides beneficiary investments of $4 billion over 5 years and $16.6 billion over ten years. These investments include increasing asset levels to help more beneficiaries qualify for premium assistance, Medicare mental health parity, and increased coverage for preventive services;
* Includes additional provisions for pharmacies, dialysis patients and providers, community health centers, ambulances, rural providers, e-prescribing, psychologists, social workers and others;
* Incorporates balanced offsets between Medicare Advantage IME cuts and Private- Fee-for-Service changes that impact network requirements, not payment levels.
In addition, H.R. 6331 would include an 18-month delay in the DMEPOS competitive bidding process, integrating provisions from the Stark-Camp-Rangel-Dingell-Pallone-Boehner bill introduced last week (H.R. 6252). This delay will give the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) the opportunity to make needed improvements to the program. These improvements are designed to improve the program for both beneficiaries and suppliers. H.R. 6331 also eliminates cuts to oxygen and wheelchair payments contained in S. 3101.
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