The Senate yesterday failed to invoke cloture on legislation (H.R. 6331) to prevent a July 1 Medicare physician payment cut. The 58-40 vote fell just short of the 60 affirmatives needed to invoke cloture and begin debate on the bill, which passed the House on Tuesday.
Sponsored by Reps. Charles Rangel (D-NY) and John Dingell (D-MI), H.R. 6331 would freeze physician payments for 2008 and provide a 1.1% increase for physicians in 2009. It also contains several rural hospital provisions and would delay for 18 months the competitive bidding program for Durable Medical Equipment (DMEPOS). The measure will be returned to the Senate calendar for consideration after Congress returns from its Independence Day recess. Earlier this month, the Senate failed to invoke cloture on similar legislation (S. 3101) sponsored by Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT).
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