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Press Release

For Immediate Release
July 16, 2008
Contact: Sean C. Bonyun
(202) 225-3761

Upton Works to Preserve Health Care for Michigan’s Seniors & Veterans - Supports Veto Override
House and Senate both override President’s veto to avoid 11 percent Medicare cut – measure protecting seniors, veterans, doctors and community pharmacists now law

WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman Fred Upton (R-St. Joseph) joined an overwhelming majority of his colleagues in the House in overriding the President’s veto of legislation that reverses an 11 percent cut for doctors treating Medicare patients.  The Medicare Improvement for Patients and Providers Act, H.R. 6331, first passed the House on June 24th and the Senate approved it on July 9th.   The President vetoed H.R. 6331 earlier yesterday, and the House responded by voting to override the veto by a vote of 383 to 41.  The Senate also overrode the President’s veto by a vote of 70 to 26.  The Medicare improvements are now law.

“Quite simply, the successful veto override preserves ready access to high-quality, community-based health care for Michigan’s 1.4 million Medicare patients and 96,000 TRICARE patients,” said Upton.  “We were charting a dangerous course that would have likely forced many physicians in Michigan and across the country to discontinue care for patients over 65.  The votes in the House and Senate ensure that those individuals who need it most -seniors, the disabled and veterans - will continue to receive quality health care, and physicians will not endure an 11 percent payment cut to care for them.  We rescued Michigan’s doctors from enduring a $540 million cut in reimbursements over the next 18 months – and our residents will be better for it.”

The legislation halts an approximate 11 percent decrease in Medicare payments to physicians, therapists and many other health care professionals, while also providing a positive update in payments for the next 18 months.  Michigan’s physician workforce is older than many other states, and the state’s ratio of physicians to patients is lower, meaning a cut of 11 percent would have made it particularly hard for Michigan’s seniors and disabled individuals to find physicians willing to care for them. 

According to the American Medical Association, without the improvements in H.R. 6331, Michigan’s doctors stood to lose $540 million, an average of $21,000 per doctor, for the care of elderly and disabled patients over the next 18 months.

“The legislation also improves Medicaid and Medicare payments to our community pharmacies who play such a vital role in local health care needs,” said Upton.  “Our community pharmacists man the front lines of health care in our small towns in southwest Michigan.  Skyrocketing gas prices have magnified the important role community pharmacists play in our daily lives – without our local pharmacies, residents would be forced to travel great distances just to fill a prescription.” 

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