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Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008
Thanks to the overwhelming number of physicians, patients and staff who contacted Florida’s Congressional delegation, organized medicine has been able to stop the scheduled 10.6% cut in Medicare payments that was to take effect July 1, 2008.
On July 15 Congress voted overwhelmingly to override President Bush’s veto of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (H.R. 6331).  Despite the presidential veto, the U.S. House of Representatives reached a required two-thirds majority to override it with a 383-41 vote, and the Senate followed suit by a 70-26 margin. The veto and subsequent overrides come on the heels of the Senate’s vote in favor of H.R. 6331 by a veto-proof majority of 69-30. The U.S. House of Representatives approved H.R. 6331 on June 24 by an overwhelming, veto-proof majority of 355-59. 

This bill replaces the 10.6 percent payment cut that went into effect on July 1 with a 0.5 percent update extension through Dec. 31, and it provides an additional 1.1 percent update for 2009. The 18-month reprieve this bill provides allows Congress time to work with physicians on developing a long-term solution to a payment system that all agree is fatally flawed. 
There is, of course, much more work to be done to resolve this issue once and for all.  The Orange County Medical Society informs our members by email alerts, asking for you to contact our legislators on these critical issues.  You have just seen our efforts prove beneficial! Encourage your colleagues to join OCMS, so all physicians can become engaged in fighting for the rights of physicians and their patients.  As once voice, we can make a difference!


OCMS Membership Benefit
OCMS is pleased to offer a member benefit program through Comp Options Insurance Company.  The program offers OCMS members access to workers’ compensation products and services with    the potential to receive up to a 24.8% return on the premiums paid.  Contact the OCMS office at 407-622-8188 for more information.



August 2008

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