The U.S. House and Senate rallied widespread bi-partisan support today to override a Presidential veto of critical Medicare legislation that will prevent the 10.6 percent cut to the Medicare physician fee schedule, extend the technical component grandfather clause, and repeal the laboratory competitive bidding demonstration project.

The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008, H.R. 6331, passed by a 383-41 margin in the House and a 70-26 margin in the Senate—securing the necessary two-thirds majority of votes required to override the veto cast by the President.

The President vetoed the legislation earlier in the day, citing provisions that would cut funding for the Medicare Advantage Program.

The bill will replace the scheduled 10.6 percent cut in the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule with a 1.1 percent increase, and extend the technical component “grandfather” provision for 18 months retroactively from the July 1 cutoff.

The legislative victory comes after a dramatic series of votes and debate in both chambers of Congress, as previously reported in Statline, ultimately resulting in the bi-partisan success.

The College will continue to keep members informed of this important issue in an upcoming issue of Statline.

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