April 1 (Bloomberg) — The U.S. Senate cleared for President Barack Obama's signature a one-year delay of a 24 percent cut in payment rates for physicians who accept Medicare patients.
The Senate yesterday voted 64-35, with 60 required, to pass the measure. Fifteen Republicans voted with Democrats in favor of the delay while six Democrats voted against it.
Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat, agreed to the one-year "patch," though he said he preferred a permanent solution to head off the payment cut that lawmakers have delayed every year since 2003.
"We need to take action on this to ensure that Medicare patients will be able to see their doctor," Reid said on the Senate floor. "This legislation is not perfect, it's not ideal."
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