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With strong bipartisan support, both the House of Representatives (383-41) and Senate (70-26) voted to override the White House veto of H.R. 6331, the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008. The President vetoed the bill Tuesday morning, due to concerns that the proposed cuts to the Medicare Advantage private fee for services plans would decrease access to Medicare services in rural and underserved areas.
Passage of the law will allow speech-language pathologists in private practice to enroll in the Medicare program effective July 2009 and recognize audiologists as eligible to receive a bonus payment under Medicare's quality reporting initiative. Both provisions must now go through the regulatory phase at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
The new law will also allow Medicare to continue reimbursing providers at the 2008 physician fee schedule rates, and increase Part B payment 1.1% for 2009. The therapy cap exceptions process is extended through December 2009. CMS has been holding claims since July 1, in anticipation of Congressional action, and will adjust payments as necessary.
ASHA applauds the grassroots and advocacy efforts of audiologists and speech-language pathologists. More detailed information on the implementation of SLP private practice and audiology quality reporting will be forthcoming as it becomes available. For more information, please contact Ingrida Lusis, ASHA's Director of Federal and Political Advocacy, at 202-624-5951 or via e-mail at ilusis@asha.org.
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