Bunning Blockade Leads To 21 Percent Fee Cut For Doctors

[babylonsister]

Bunning Blockade Leads To 21 Percent Fee Cut For Doctors
Brian Beutler | March 1, 2010, 3:22PM


Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY) is already infamous for blocking a temporary extension of unemployment and COBRA benefits for out of work Americans. But included in that package is legislation to prevent a mandatory pay cut for doctors--and by standing in it's way, he's triggered a 21 percent fee reduction to doctors seeing Medicare patients starting today.

Republicans say they support a temporary measure to avoid the cuts, but they have been unable to rein in Bunning, and, as such, the Senate has failed to act on a House bill that staves them off.

The American Medical Association warned of this last week: "A Medicare meltdown now seems certain, as the U.S. Senate has left early for the weekend, abandoning seniors, military families and baby boomers," reads an AMA statement from Friday. "The Senate failed to repeal the Medicare physician payment formula that will cause a drastic 21 percent payment cut to physicians who care for Medicare and TRICARE patients. On Monday, the 21 percent cut goes into effect, forcing many physicians to limit the number of Medicare and TRICARE patients they see in order to keep their practice doors open."

On a conference call with reporters this afternoon Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) put it this way: "By his actions, Bunning has prevented people from receiving Unemployment, health care access, transportation projects from going forward, and Doctors who provide Medicare services from getting paid."

more...

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/03/bunning-blockade-leads-to-21-percent-pay-cut-to-doctors.php

[ej510]

1. Why aren't the democrats screaming about this?

Where is the President?

[Beetwasher]

2. They Are, But The Media Yawns

It's getting some coverage, but not nearly as much as it should.

[alstephenson]

3. "Republicans....have been unable to rein in Bunning..."

Total B.S. Ask Senator Kyl how hard he's trying to "rein in Bunning". They're just letting Bunning do the heavy lifting cuz he's not running again. Bunch of partisan hacks, all of them.

[lob1]

4. I don't understand this whole deal. Somehow the pubs gave the minority

the power to stop the majority. Now they've smoothed it out so only one man can hold up the entire country? I just don't get it.

[JuniperLea]

5. I'm sure forcing doctors to take a pay cut is considered a far better idea...

Than forcing the insurance companies to take a cut in profit. Doctors are people too... insurance companies are bigger people now.

[babylonsister]

6. How long will it take docs to stop seeing Medicare patients because

they won't be assured of getting paid? This sucks.

[JuniperLea]

11. Same thing will happen with insurance eventually...

There will be very few doctors that will take PPO insurance and accept the "agreed upon" rate of pay. Instead we will all be forced into an 80/20 plan... or worse.

[Greyhound]

7. K&R

[ChicagoSuz219]

8. He's the gift that keeps on giving... :-( n/t

[Triana]

9. It's the Republican Way - GUT all these "socialist" programs. n/t

[Barack_America]

10. Denying veterans and their families the care they deserve.

Yep, Bunning is surely a Republican!