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Congress Fails to Pass Medicare Fix - 10.6% cut Will Go Into
Effect on Tuesday - Your Continued Action is Necessary
June 27, 2008
Late last night, after a political back-and-forth, the Senate
failed to move H.R. 6331, the legislation that would have
averted the 10.6% cut to final passage. Earlier this week,
the
House of Representatives passed H.R. 6331, The Medicare
Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008, by an
overwhelming vote of 355-59. Since both the House and Senate
have adjourned for the July 4th recess, this means
that the 10.6% cut to physician payments will go into effect
on July 1st . It is possible, but not guaranteed,
that the Congress will pass a bill in July to adjust physician
payments retroactively.
Thank you to all who contacted their Members of Congress in
the lead up to these votes. Please continue to
call and visit
your Senators, Representatives, and their staff in
their district offices while they are home for the week of
June 30 - July 4. Thank those
who supported
H.R. 6331 and urge all Senators and Representatives
to pass an SGR patch as soon as they return to Washington, DC,
after the July 4 district work period. Your calls,
letters, e-mails, and in-person visits make a huge impact and
are critical to keeping this issue at the top of the priority
list.
ASCO will continue to advocate for immediate
legislative action when Congress returns from recess.
For more information, contact
ASCO's Cancer Policy & Clinical Affairs Department at
703-299-1050 or
publicpolicy@asco.org. |
