WASHINGTON, Jun 8, 2008 (UPI via COMTEX) -- A leading Democratic U.S. senator
has introduced legislation that he says would avert a coming reduction in
Medicare payments to doctors.
Max Baucus of Montana, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, introduced the
bill late Friday, The Hill reported. The bill would use money intended to get
private insurance plans to participate in Medicare Advantage to provide doctors
with a small increase in reimbursement, instead of the 10.6 percent cut
scheduled to take effect July 1.
While senators on both sides of the aisle agree the cut must be stopped, they do
not necessarily agree on how to find the money. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa,
ranking minority member on the Finance Committee, introduced his own bill, which
would increase reimbursement 1.1 percent -- more than the .5 percent Baucus has
proposed, the newspaper said.
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Copyright 2008 by United Press International