House & Senate Override President's Medicare Advantage Veto
Issue: Medicare Advantage
Date: July 16, 2008
Action Taken: The president vetoed the Medicare bill (H.R. 6331) on July 15, 2007. However, both chambers voted to override the veto. The House, just before 5 p.m. yesterday, voted to override by a vote of 383 to 41. The Senate vote followed around 6 p.m. and by a vote of 70 to 26 agreed to override the veto as well.
Background: The President’s veto statement blamed private Medicare Advantage payment cuts for the White House's opposition. "Medicare beneficiaries need and benefit from having more options than just the one-size-fits-all approach of traditional Medicare fee-for-service," according to the statement.
The bill blocks a 10.6 percent cut in doctors’ fees and would increase Medicare payments to doctors by 1.1 percent next year. But the physician increases would be offset by a reduction in payments to private Medicare Advantage plans.
Next Step: The bill has become law including the $13.8 billion in Medicare Advantage cuts. AHIA-NAIFA Health & Employee Benefits will monitor and provide information on how this new law will affect your clients.
NAIFA Staff Contact: For additional information, please contact Diane Boyle .
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