Senate Passes Jobs Bill That Would Avert Cuts To Medicare Payments
On Wednesday, the Senate voted 62-36 to approve a $140 billion jobs bill (HR 4213), the Washington Post reports.
The measure includes provisions that would:
- Avert cuts in Medicare reimbursements to physicians;
- Extend for one year subsidies to help laid-off workers purchase health coverage through COBRA
- Offer additional funding to states through Medicaid (Pershing, Washington Post, 3/11).
Six Republican senators joined 56 Democrats and independents in support of the bill (Alarkon, The Hill, 3/10).
The House approved its own $154 billion jobs bill in December 2009.
On Tuesday, House Ways and Means Committee Chair Sander Levin (D-Mich.) said the House might require a conference committee with the Senate to reconcile the chambers' bills. Creating a conference committee could prolong the process in the Senate for several days, according to the Post (Washington Post, 3/11). This is part of the California Healthline Daily Edition, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.