Senate passes physician payments bill

On April 14, the U.S. Senate approved by a 92-8 vote H.R. 2, the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015.  The Senate passed the House of Representatives’ version of the legislation without any amendments.

Republicans and Democrats offered three amendments each but none passed.  The legislation permanently repeals the Sustainable Growth Rate formula for Medicare Part B physician payments and extends funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program through 2017.  President Obama has indicated that he will sign the bill into law.