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The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (H.R. 6331) was a bill in the 110th Congress "to amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to extend expiring provisions under the Medicare Program, to improve beneficiary access to preventive and mental health services, to enhance low-income benefit programs, and to maintain access to care in rural areas, including pharmacy access, and for other purposes." (Official title.)^[1]

Article summary (how summaries work)

Contents 1 Current status 2 Key votes 3 Supporters 4 Opponents 5 Articles and resources 5.1 See also 5.2 References 5.3 External articles

Current status

• Jul 15, 2008: The Senate attempted to override the President's veto of this bill, and the vote passed, by roll call vote. The totals were 70 Ayes, 26 Nays, 4 Present/Not Voting.^[2]

• Jul 15, 2008: The President issued a veto on this bill.^[2]

• Jul 15, 2008: The House of Representatives attempted to override the President's veto of this bill, and the vote passed, by roll call vote. The totals were 383 Ayes, 41 Nays, 11 Present/Not Voting.^[2]

• Jul 9, 2008: This bill passed in the Senate by Unanimous Consent. A record of each representative's position was not kept.^[2]

• Jun 26, 2008: This bill failed a cloture motion, preventing consideration of the bill, in the Senate by roll call vote. The totals were 58 Ayes, 40 Nays, 2 Present/Not Voting.^[2]

• Jun 24, 2008: This bill passed in the House of Representatives by roll call vote. The vote was held under a suspension of the rules to cut debate short and pass the bill, needing a two-thirds majority. The totals were 355 Ayes, 59 Nays, 20 Present/Not Voting.^[2]

Key votes

The bill, which was introduced June 6, 2008, is a bill to amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to extend expiring provisions under the Medicare program, to improve beneficiary access to preventive and mental health services, to enhance low-income benefit programs, and to maintain access to care in rural areas, including pharmacy access, and for other purposes.^[3]

Same for all scorecards:

• Name of bill: Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008
• Chamber: U.S. Senate
• Roll call number: 149
• Congress number: 110th
• Session number: 2
• Vote link: U.S. Senate record vote 149, 110th Congress, Session 2

Scored vote
Scorecard: AFSCME 2008 Senate Scorecard	Org. position: Aye
Description: "The Senate rejected a motion to cut off debate and proceed with consideration of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (S. 3101), a bill that would have improved Medicare’s guaranteed benefit package by covering new preventive services, blocked a cut in physicians' reimbursements set for July 1, and helped seniors with limited incomes pay their medical and prescription drug bills." (Original scorecard available at: http://www.afscme.org/legislation-politics/19812.cfm)

Scored vote
Scorecard: National Journal 2008 Senate Scorecard	Org. position: Nay
Description: "Allow the Senate to proceed to a bill blocking cuts in Medicare payments to doctors. June 12. (54-39; 60 votes required to invoke cloture. Reid voted no so that he could subsequently move to reconsider the vote.)" (Original scorecard available at: http://www.nationaljournal.com/njmagazine/cs_20090228_4813.php)

Same for all scorecards:

• Name of bill: Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008
• Chamber: U.S. Senate
• Roll call number: 169
• Congress number: 110th
• Session number: 2
• Vote link: U.S. Senate record vote 169, 110th Congress, Session 2

Scored vote
Scorecard: Americans for Democratic Action 2008 Senate Scorecard	Org. position: Aye
Description: "Motion to invoke cloture to limit debate and proceed to a vote on a bill to prevent a 10.6 percent cut in Medicare physician payments scheduled to take effect July 1, 2008, by holding payments at current rates for 18 months. It would give doctors a 1.1 percent increase in 2009 and provide $16.6 billion over 10 years for changes to Medicare beneficiary programs. The costs would be partially offset by reducing the cost of Medicare Advantage plans." (Original scorecard available at: http://www.adaction.org/pages/publications/voting-records.php)

The House passed the bill on June 24, 2008.^[4]

Same for all scorecards:

• Name of bill: Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008
• Chamber: U.S. House of Representatives
• Roll call number: 443
• Congress number: 110th
• Session number: 2
• Vote link: U.S. House of Representatives record vote 443, 110th Congress, Session 2

Scored vote
Scorecard: Americans for Democratic Action 2008 House Scorecard	Org. position: Aye
Description: "Passage of Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) motion to suspend the rules and pass a bill to prevent a 10.6 percent cut in payments to physicians treating Medicare patients, scheduled for July 1; hold payments at current rates for 18 months; and provide a 1.1 percent increase in 2009. The bill would provide an additional $16.6 billion over 10 years for changes to Medicare beneficiary programs, with the costs partially offset by phasing out bonus payments to Medicare Advantage plans and by requiring private "fee for service" plans to form networks with health care providers, in order to slow growth of the plans" (Original scorecard available at: http://www.adaction.org/pages/publications/voting-records.php)

Scored vote
Scorecard: National Journal 2008 House Scorecard	Org. position: Aye
Description: "Block cuts in Medicare payments to doctors. June 24. (355-59; 276 votes required in this case to pass under suspension of the rules)" (Original scorecard available at: http://www.nationaljournal.com/njmagazine/cs_20090228_4813.php)

Same for all scorecards:

• Name of bill: Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008
• Chamber: U.S. House of Representatives
• Roll call number: 491
• Congress number: 110th
• Session number: 2
• Vote link: U.S. House of Representatives record vote 491, 110th Congress, Session 2

Scored vote
Scorecard: National Journal 2008 House Scorecard	Org. position: Aye
Description: "Override President Bush's veto of a bill blocking cuts in Medicare payments to doctors. July 15. (383-41; 283 votes required in this case to override the veto)" (Original scorecard available at: http://www.nationaljournal.com/njmagazine/cs_20090228_4813.php)

President George W. Bush vetoed the bill, but the House (by vote of 383-41)and the Senate (by vote of 70-26) overrode the veto on July 15, 2008.^[4]

Supporters

• Americal Clinical Laboratory Association
• American Academy of Family Physicians
• American Academy of Ophthalmology
• American College of Physicians
• American College of Radiology
• American Medical Association
• American Osteopathic Association
• American Society of Anesthesiologists
• Louisiana State Medical Society
• National Association of Chain Drug Stores
• National Association of Community Health Centers
• National Community Pharmacists Association
• National Council on Aging
• NETWORK

Opponents

• Neurosurgery: On Call

Articles and resources

See also

References

1. ↑ Project Vote Smart's info page on Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (H.R.6331).
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5} Govtrack's info page on Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (H.R.6331).
3. ↑ Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 on [1].
4. ↑ ^4.0 4.1 OpenCongress' info page on Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008

External articles

• Kevin Drum, "Medicare Advantage," the Political Animal blog on WashingtonMonthly.com, July 7, 2008.