Alerts

VICTORY: Medicare bill becomes law!

H.R. 6331 includes SGR fix, Teaching Rule reform

In a historic triumph for ASA, a law has been enacted that will reverse Medicare payment cuts for 2008, provide a 1.1% positive update for 2009, and permanently restore full Medicare payment to anesthesiology teaching programs beginning in 2010!

Earlier today President Bush vetoed H.R. 6331.  This afternoon, however, both chambers of Congress voted overwhelmingly to override the veto–the House by a vote of 383-41 and the Senate by a vote of 70-26—meaning that the legislation has now become law.

“The enactment of H.R. 6331 marks a tremendous victory for the medical specialty of anesthesiology and all of organized medicine,” said ASA President Jeffrey L. Apfelbaum, M.D.  “Anesthesiologists help make modern medicine possible, and this new law will help ensure seniors’ access to their life-saving medical care.”

The bill includes many critical Medicare provisions, several of which are vital to anesthesiology.  Of particular importance, the legislation:

Blocks Medicare payment cuts for 18 months through December 31, 2009 and provides a 1.1% positive Medicare payment update for 2009.  The bill’s 18-month fix provides time for Congress to develop an alternative update mechanism to address the additional Medicare payment cuts still projected for 2010 and beyond.
Restores full Medicare payment to anesthesiology teaching programs beginning in 2010 by including the language of S. 2056, authored by Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) and Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ), with bipartisan cosponsorship from 29 additional Senators, as well as H.R. 2053, authored by Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-CA) and Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX) and cosponsored by 127 additional Representatives.
Extends the 1.0 floor on the work GPCI through December 31, 2009.
Increases the PQRI bonus to 2.0% for 2009 and 2010 for physicians who choose to participate in the program.
ASA applauds Ways and Means Committee chair Charles Rangel (D-NY) and Energy and Commerce Committee chair John Dingell (D-MI) for authoring H.R. 6331, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) for moving the bill through the House.  On the Senate side, ASA is extremely grateful for the leadership of Sens. Harry Reid (D-NV) and Max Baucus (D-MT).  ASA also sincerely appreciates Sen. Rockefeller, Sen. Kyl, Rep. Becerra, and the 157 other Members of Congress who worked to ensure the continued viability of anesthesiology teaching programs by supporting H.R. 2053 and S. 2056 through direct sponsorship of these bills.

Further, ASA commends Component Society leaders, Key Contacts, committee members, officers, and other ASA members who contacted their lawmakers in support of the legislation.  We are also grateful to the AMA and the federation of medicine for their strong efforts supporting this bill.

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident… sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Lorem ipsum dolor.
“Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum”
– Litza Braun

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident. sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam

Explore the diverse landscape of literature

At vero eos et accusamus et iusto odio dignissimos ducimus qui blanditiis praesentium voluptatum deleniti atque corrupti quos dolores et quas molestias excepturi sint occaecati cupiditate non provident, similique sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollitia animi, id est laborum et dolorum fuga. Et harum quidem rerum facilis est et expedita distinctio.

Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt.

Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. 

Eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit sed.
Post Tags :
&nbsp, 2009, 2010, 6331, additional, and, anesthesiology, asa, bill, congress, house, legislation, medicare, medicine, members, payment, programs, sen, teaching, update
Share This :

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Gina Gagua

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.