A bill was introduced into the U.S. Senate late Thursday to delay the implementation of the Deficit Reduction Act (DRA) of 2005.
The Access to Medicare Imaging Act (S. 3795) would place a two-year moratorium on the cuts in Medicare reimbursement mandated by the DRA. The bill is companion legislation to H.R. 5704, which was introduced in the House of Representatives in June.
S. 3795 would impose a moratorium on the DRA cuts for two years, until 2009. During that time, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) would conduct a study on the effects of the cuts on patients, especially those living in rural areas, according to the Access to Medical Imaging Coalition, an Arlington, VA, lobbying group opposed to the DRA.
The Senate bill was introduced by Sens. Gordon Smith (R-OR) and Jay Rockefeller (D-WV). Original co-sponsors of the legislation include Sens. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Richard Burr (R-NC), Mike DeWine (R-OH), Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI).
By AuntMinnie.com staff writers
August 4, 2006
Related Reading
DRA cuts affect more than imaging providers, August 2, 2006
Groups testify against DRA imaging cuts, July 19, 2006
Public Citizen makes case against DRA, July 11, 2006
House bill seeks to delay DRA imaging cuts, June 29, 2006
House bill proposes repeal of DRA imaging cuts, May 3, 2006
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