House Democrats Stall Medicare Vote; Republicans Propose Bare-Bones Bill, Including SCHIP Extension

The latest update after the veto....but it appears the present version that stands a chance on being passed does not include enough additional funding for SCHIPs...BD

The House on Wednesday decided to delay until next week a vote on a Medicare package that would delay the scheduled 10% reduction to Medicare physician fees, CongressDaily reports. According to CongressDaily, "Democrats are hoping to win support in the Senate for more than the 'bare-bones' fix being proposed by House Republicans, but it is unclear if that will be possible" (Johnson/Bourge, CongressDaily, 12/13). Aides from both parties said that the bare-bones package released on Wednesday could become law if Democrats fail to pass a broader bill before Congress adjourns.

The Republican package would halt the physician fee cut, but it does not include any fee increase. The proposal also would extend for one year several Medicare programs that are about to expire, including a program that gives higher reimbursement to rural health care providers, transitional Medicaid assistance and exemptions to caps on occupational therapy benefits. The physician fee fix would be paid for using money from a Medicare Advantage "stabilization fund" and by reducing MA payments to hospitals with teaching programs (Armstrong [1], CQ Today, 12/12). Republicans say the proposal is the only one that could pass both chambers and be signed into law by President Bush (CongressDaily, 12/13).