Congress overrides Medicare Act Veto.

Congress was successful in overriding President Bush's Veto of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (H.R. 6331). The substantial piece of legislation has quite a few far-reaching directives and actions effecting Medicare, the medical community and healthcare in general. The most notable of which would be the provision which delays the 10.6 percent Medicare payment cut in physician reimbursement that would have taken place, extending the June 2008 rates through December 31, 2008, and providing an additional 1.1 percent update for 2009. According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) cost estimates, a 1 percent update for 2009 funded in a way that produces no budgetary effects after 2009 would lead to a 21 percent cut in January 2010.

The CBO estimates the cuts proposed by the bill will force some 2.3 million seniors to leave the program over the next five years. To view the entire bill, go to www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h110-6331. To view the CBO report, go to www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/95xx/doc9550/ hr6331GreggLtr.pdf.