Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY)
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/03/bunning-blockade-leads-to-21-percent-pay-cut-to-doctors.php
March 1, 2010, 3:22PM
Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY) is already infamous for blocking a temporary
extension of unemployment and COBRA benefits for out of work
Americans. But included in that package is legislation to prevent a
mandatory pay cut for doctors--and by standing in its way, he's
triggered a 21 percent fee reduction to doctors seeing Medicare
patients starting today.
Republicans say they support a temporary measure to avoid the cuts,
but they have been unable to rein in Bunning, and, as such, the Senate
has failed to act on a House bill that staves them off.
The American Medical Association warned of this last week: "A Medicare
meltdown now seems certain, as the U.S. Senate has left early for the
weekend, abandoning seniors, military families and baby boomers,"
reads an AMA statement from Friday. "The Senate failed to repeal the
Medicare physician payment formula that will cause a drastic 21
percent payment cut to physicians who care for Medicare and TRICARE
patients. On Monday, the 21 percent cut goes into effect, forcing many
physicians to limit the number of Medicare and TRICARE patients they
see in order to keep their practice doors open."
On a conference call with reporters this afternoon Rep. Chris Van
Hollen (D-MD) put it this way: "By his actions, Bunning has prevented
people from receiving Unemployment, health care access, transportation
projects from going forward, and Doctors who provide Medicare services
from getting paid."
Today, for the seventh time, Bunning objected to a request for
unanimous consent to temporarily extend benefits. In addition to
cutting doctor's fees, his exploitation of the Senate's filibuster
rules has cost thousands of out-of-work Americans their benefits and
has even put thousands of federal employees out of work.
Democrats hope to resolve the issues in a longer-term way by passing
jobs bill (which includes benefits extensions and a so-called
"doc-fix" for Medicare reimbursement rates) next week. In the mean
time they're bracing for Bunning and the GOP to take as many steps as
possible to delay legislative progress.
Today, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid had to force an end to debate
on the confirmation of Barbara Keenan to the fourth circuit court of
appeals. Keenan's nomination is so non-controversial, that she was
voted out of the Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously. But hat one
procedural delay will eat up over two days of floor time.
It's unclear at this point whether the lost benefits and
reimbursements can be retroactively restored.
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