House Approves 6 Month .5% Medicare Physician Fee Increase

In continuing coverage from yesterday’s briefing, Bloomberg (12/20, Goldstein, Johnston) reports that a "scheduled cut in Medicare payments to doctors will be postponed," and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) "will be extended at its current enrollment under legislation the U.S. House sent to the President" on Wednesday. By a vote of 411 to 3, the House passed the bill, which the Senate approved unanimously on Tuesday. According to press secretary Dana Perino, "President George W. Bush is expected to sign the compromise legislation." Under this bill, physicians who treat Medicare patients will "get a 0.5 percent increase through June 30, rather than a 10.1 percent cut on Jan. 1."