Medicare Payment Cut Stopped

The U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate voted to override President Bush's veto of the Medicare Bill on July 15, 2008. The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (H.R. 6331) has become law and the 10.6% physician payment cut that had taken place has been reversed.

This override was in part due to the active lobbying by the American Medical Association and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. We thank all of those who contributed to the cause.

The end result of this bill will allow us, as Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons, to continue to provide plastic and reconstructive surgery to the Medicare population - this is a service they may need and well deserve. As a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, I am happy to provide this care.