House Votes To Send 'Doc Fix' Bill To President

Only two House lawmakers voted on Thursday against a bill that continues the current rate at which physicians who accept Medicare are reimbursed.

By a 409-2 tally, the House passed the so-called ‘Doc Fix,’ thereby staving off a 25% cut in payments to physicians that would’ve gone into effect on January 1 minus congressional action.

Following the vote, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said he supported the roughly $19.2 billion one-year extension, but called on lawmakers to work out a long-term solution to the Medicare reimbursement formula.

“While this legislation will provide seniors with the security of continued access to the physician of their choice and our physicians with at least one full year of SGR relief, this remains a long-term problem that requires a permanent solution.”

With the Senate having passed its version of the bill last week, the legislation will head directly to President Obama’s desk for his signature.

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