Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act Passed Into Law
The (HR 6331) has been passed through the Congress to act as the new law in the USA. The new medicare bill delays cuts in reimbursements to physicians treating Medicare beneficiaries and military personnel and phases out higher copayments for mental illness. The bill has been overridden by the President George W Bush who issued veto to the bill. He termed the bill to be objectionable as it would take funds from private health insurers to keep paying physicians, and this would be fiscally irresponsible.
The bill halts a scheduled 10.6% cut in payments to physicians who treat Medicare patients, institutes a 1.1% payment increase in 2009. Also the bill includes legislation to make coverage of mental illness more equitable. At the press conference, the American Psychiatric Association (APA), has pointed out some changes in Coverage of Mental Health Services. Section 102 of the bill “ends the blatant inequality in [copayment] required for all mental-health services under Medicare Part B,” the APA stated. For more than 40 years, Medicare required 50% copayment for outpatient psychiatric care, while all other Part B services required a 20% copayment. The new bill will ensure that starting in 2014, copayment for mental health services is the same 20% as for all other Part B services, it noted.
The American Medical Association on the other hand, has addressed it as the victory of the people. In a statement issued to the press Nancy H. Nielsen, MD, president of the AMA said,
“It has been a long and winding road, but today we celebrate that Congress heard the voices of millions of patients and physicians and voted to override President Bush’s veto and protect the health of America.”
She further added,
“Along with the AMA, many patient, physician, and military groups called on Congress to pass this bipartisan bill. The only group opposing the bill was the health insurance lobby, which was eager to protect health plan subsidies and profits. Seniors, the disabled, and military families celebrate with us today as this bill becomes law to protect their access to needed healthcare.”
Source:Medscape Today
Filed under General Law, Medical Malpractice
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