WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Ron Lewis (KY-02) voted today to support legislation to stop a scheduled cut of Medicare payments for physicians. The bill, S. 2499, negotiated between leaders in the House and Senate and subsequently passed in both bodies, replaces a 10.1% cut with a 0.5% payment increase through June 30, 2008. 

 

“I am pleased that we were able to prevent these devastating scheduled cuts from going into effect,” said Lewis. “I am hopeful that Congress will revisit this issue early next year and develop a long term solution to ensure that physicians are paid fairly while keeping Medicare sustainable.” 

 

The compromise bill rejects many of the controversial policies that were contained in the CHAMP Act, an earlier bill supported by Democrat leaders mandating $200 billion in Medicare cuts. The proposal would have decreased Medicare benefits for millions of seniors and reduced access to specialized medical services such as home health agencies, skilled nursing facilities, dialysis facilities, power wheelchairs and oxygen equipment.

 

S. 2499 is expected to be signed into law by President Bush in the coming days.

 

 

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