Medicare Plan approved By Senate

The Medicare payment cut that was scheduled and that would result in lower Medicare payments to doctors is not likely to happen. A health insurance program for children is to be extended by the US Senate.

If the house clears it and president Bush sanctions it with his signature, many US health insurance companies would not have to bear cuts to Medicare Advantage, the payment of which has been $76.3 billion in this year. This information is based on a Senate Finance Committee statement.

There have been disputes for many months between the Democrats and Republicans over this issue. Now the Senates approval has come amidst unanimous consent for this. The efforts at doubling the State Childrens Health Insurance Program enrollment to 10 million was vetoed by president Bush twice. According to sources, if there were any moves to slice the Medicare Insurance program, president Bush would veto them.

According to the proposed plan, physicians who are in the Medicare program and who were likely to get a 10 percent cut on Jan will now get a 0.5 percent increase. The childrens health plan (SCHIP) would stand at present enrollment levels until March 2009. This would put the responsibility of future action on the plan on the shoulders of the new government likely to be sworn in  next year.