Medicare Improvements
It was reported in the Oneonta Daily Star that Fox and Bassett hospitals were bracing for cuts in Medicare. "Two local hospitals will lose out more than $1 million combined if the Senate doesn’t pass a measure to prevent a 10.6% cut in Medicare reibursement rates to physicians.”
Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand helped pass the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008, which would reverse those pending 10.6% payment cut for Medicare doctors. This health care package improves preventative and mental health benefits under the Medicare program and enhances benefits for rural and low-income seniors.
The bill has been endorsed by National Rural Health Association, who insist the bill: “focuses on strengthening primary care and takes significant strides in protecting rural seniors’ access to care.”
The bill contains a requirement for all Medicare physicians to use e-prescribing by 2011. Rep. Gillibrand reports: “Each year, more than 7,000 Americans die from preventable medication errors, and it is time that our health care system comes into the 21st Century. E-prescribing will lower health care costs, save lives and improve the administration of our health care system.”
The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act eliminates the pending 10.6% cut in Medicare payments to physicians for the remainder of 2008 and provides a 1.1% increase in Medicare physician payments for 2009. It will provides financial incentives to doctors in order to encourage the use of e-prescribing technology. It will extend a low-income assistance program for Medicare beneficiaries with incomes below $14,040 so that their Medicare Part B premiums are paid, and reduce the copayment for mental health care for seniors and improves access in rural areas.
Gillibrand said: “Upstate New York has a shortage of physicians and this legislation will improve the quality of, and increase access to, high-quality, affordable health care for our seniors. It is essential that seniors have access to doctors in their community, and this bill will allow doctors to keep treating Medicare beneficiaries by preventing unsustainable reimbursement cuts from taking effect. Seniors should be receiving the gold standard in health care, but unfortunately the federal government has failed to always provide adequate care. This bill will help bridge the inequitable gap in services that many rural residents experience.”
Ted Kennedy returned to the Senate in order to help override Bush’s veto of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act. It was only the third time in Bush’s presidency, that the Senate was able to override a veto. In the House the margin was a lopsided 383-41, well beyond the two-thirds majority needed.
Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand helped pass the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008, which would reverse those pending 10.6% payment cut for Medicare doctors. This health care package improves preventative and mental health benefits under the Medicare program and enhances benefits for rural and low-income seniors.
The bill has been endorsed by National Rural Health Association, who insist the bill: “focuses on strengthening primary care and takes significant strides in protecting rural seniors’ access to care.”
The bill contains a requirement for all Medicare physicians to use e-prescribing by 2011. Rep. Gillibrand reports: “Each year, more than 7,000 Americans die from preventable medication errors, and it is time that our health care system comes into the 21st Century. E-prescribing will lower health care costs, save lives and improve the administration of our health care system.”
The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act eliminates the pending 10.6% cut in Medicare payments to physicians for the remainder of 2008 and provides a 1.1% increase in Medicare physician payments for 2009. It will provides financial incentives to doctors in order to encourage the use of e-prescribing technology. It will extend a low-income assistance program for Medicare beneficiaries with incomes below $14,040 so that their Medicare Part B premiums are paid, and reduce the copayment for mental health care for seniors and improves access in rural areas.
Gillibrand said: “Upstate New York has a shortage of physicians and this legislation will improve the quality of, and increase access to, high-quality, affordable health care for our seniors. It is essential that seniors have access to doctors in their community, and this bill will allow doctors to keep treating Medicare beneficiaries by preventing unsustainable reimbursement cuts from taking effect. Seniors should be receiving the gold standard in health care, but unfortunately the federal government has failed to always provide adequate care. This bill will help bridge the inequitable gap in services that many rural residents experience.”
Ted Kennedy returned to the Senate in order to help override Bush’s veto of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act. It was only the third time in Bush’s presidency, that the Senate was able to override a veto. In the House the margin was a lopsided 383-41, well beyond the two-thirds majority needed.
posted by Jim O'Leary | 12:01 AM
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