House votes on override of medicare bill


Washington, D.C. -— U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge (D-Lillington) voted today to override the President’s veto of H.R. 6331, the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act.

The House voted to override the veto by a vote of 383 to 41.

The bill would prevent a 10 percent cut in Medicare payments to doctors from taking place. Many doctors have said that this cut would prevent them from being able to take patients on Medicare, meaning that seniors would be prevented from seeing the doctors they know and trust.

“By overriding the President’s veto, Congress is standing with seniors and their ability to continue to see the doctors they know and trust,” said Etheridge.

Because Tricare’s payment schedule is based on Medicare’s, the bill will also ensure military personnel and retires have continued access to the doctor of their choice. The bill will also enhance Medicare preventive and mental health benefits and provide mental health parity in the Medicare program.

H.R. 6331 has several provisions to improve rural health services. It will provide additional support for providers, hospitals and ambulances in areas where there are few health care options, including rural communities.

The bill will also help rural community pharmacies by requiring that pharmacists are promptly reimbursed by Medicare Part D. Many community pharmacists have suffered losses since Medicare Part D was implemented because they were not promptly reimbursed by insurance companies. Etheridge has been advocating for this change since conducting a tour of N.C. community pharmacies in 2006 to study the effects of Medicare Part D after it was implemented.