The Senate, after a prolonged backbiting for almost week, passed legislation to spare doctors a 21% cut in Medicare payments which was threatening for months. But the final effort came very late. As soon as the announcement had been made by the Senate, Medicare announced that they would start processing claims at a lower rate, for the month of June. The house can’t act on the fix until next week.

That figures that medical practitioners, nurses, physical therapists and other medical providers who make their bills under the fee schedule of Medicare will have to submit their claims once more. They have to pay more for the paperwork’s paying as a provider and also as a taxpayer.

Dr. Cecil B. Wilson president of the American Medical Association said that this game played by the congress is like Roulette. They are not running a health coverage program properly.

Nancy LeaMond the AARP vice president said that the cut would weaken confidence in stability of the program for elderly and disabled people numbering 46 million. 

She said that the cut would create a risky atmosphere for doctors and as a result they would decide not to take Medicare patients.  

The billings that got affected by the cut cover early part of this June. The earlier period of reprieve issued by the congress ended last may 31st. Medicare kept the processing on hold hoping lawmakers would take actions. The agency said that won’t be able to hold it any longer or the cash flow of the doctors would be affected.

The bills passed by the Senate has delayed the cut till the coming November.

The bill would also increase payments to providers in the tune of 2.2%. 

The Senate failed to pass a larger package which included jobless benefits for long term unemployed, extension of dozens of popular tax breaks for business and individuals that expired last year, aid to cash strapped states.

This step had angered the doctor immensely and can have adverse effects on the patients insured in the Medicare.