At last, the Senate did the right thing in voting to support physicians and patient access to medical care (see the statement from the AMA below and links for additional information).  In the end, the exclusive Republican minority voting against this, clearly showed they wish to side with big insurance over the vitality of America’s physicians. Compliments to the Republicans who rose to the occasion and voted in favor of this. While it might appear that the Democrats carried the day here, we need to remember that in large measure the Democratic majority precipitated this entire series of events by refusing to unlink Medicare physician pay rates from issues regarding payments to Medicare Advantage health plans. We would all like to think that Congress could act for the public good and leave partisan politics by the wayside as the drive for Real Health Reform moves forward . . . jomaxx

The AMA celebrates Wednesday’s action by the U.S. Senate to pass the “Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008” (H.R. 6331) by a veto-proof majority of 69-30. The AMA especially appreciates the heroic efforts of Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., who made this critical vote his first after his surgery in early June. Eighteen Republican senators joined Senate Democrats to make this a truly bipartisan process.

The legislation would replace a 10.6 percent cut in Medicare physician payments that took effect July 1 with a 0.5 percent update extension through Dec. 31 and provide a 1.1 percent update for 2009. The U.S. House of Representatives approved H.R. 6331 two weeks ago by an overwhelming, veto-proof majority of 355-59.

Now the AMA calls on President George W. Bush to sign H.R. 6331 to protect access to health care for seniors, the disabled and military families.

“We urge President Bush to hear and heed the voices of seniors, the disabled and military families—and sign the bill into law for the health of America,” AMA President-elect J. James Rohack, MD, said.

See link below for statement Attributable to: J. James Rohack, M.D., President-elect, American Medical Association – http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/18772.html

See how the US Senate voted on this measure: U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 110^th Congress – 2^nd Session as compiled through Senate LIS by the Senate Bill Clerk under the direction of the Secretary of the Senate – http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=2&vote=00169