Senate vote on healthcare package

Harry Reid

As part of a package, the Senate voted 62-36 yesterday to approve a $138 billion bill that would temporarily prevent Medicare payment cuts to doctors as well as extend federal Medicaid assistance and COBRA premium subsidies, which helps workers who have lost their jobs continue to afford health insurance through the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act.

"This week's bill helps those who have been hit the hardest. Among other things, we're going to extend unemployment benefits to those looking for work, cut taxes for families and businesses, and protect Medicaid so low-income families can afford healthcare," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid in a written statement.

Medicare physician payments

The legislation would delay a 21 percent cut to Medicare physician payments, triggered by its sustainable growth-rate formula, until 1 October. Physician groups, however, are hoping that Congress will deliver on a more permanent solution to Medicare's SGR formula, which is based on the economy's health and has been threatening payment cuts to doctors since 2003. The SGR measure is expected to cost $7.3 billion over 10 years, Modern Healthcare reports.

Also, it contains a six-month extension in additional federal financial assistance for state Medicaid programs, and would extend COBRA and unemployment insurance benefits through the end of the year.

Opponents of the bill argued that the bill is not fully offset, adding more than $100 billion to the federal deficit over 10 years.

The bill heads back to the House, which passed an earlier version. At deadline it was unclear if the House and Senate would schedule a conference to work out their differences, or if the House would simply vote on the bill with the Senate's changes, before it was sent to the president.

Jodie Humphries

Jodie Humphries graduated from Bath Spa University with a BA Hons in Creative Writing in 2008. She has worked for GDS Publishing for the digital group since July 2009. She has previous experience with writing for the web, running her own website since April 2007.

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