ACOFP President

By Ronnie B. Martin, DO, FACOFP dist.

June 24, 2008

Your Voice has been Heard! House Passes Physician Payment Bill
On Tuesday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the “Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008” H.R. 6331 with a 355:59 vote margin far exceeding the necessary 287 votes to gain House passage. 129 Republicans joined 226 Democrats in support of the bill. 59 Republicans voted against the bill and 20 members did not vote.

Thank you to all who contacted their Representatives.

Next steps with the U.S. Senate remain uncertain; however, this is the first and a very important step in the process of halting the 10.6 percent payment cut on July 1 as well as the 5.4 percent cut scheduled for January 1. In addition, the approved bill includes very important primary care provisions including expansion of the Medical Home Demonstration Project as well as improvements to coverage of preventive services.

Make your opinions known! Send an email to me and ACOFP. Share your thoughts, make comments, and tell us what you have been doing in regards to osteopathic family medicine.

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