After voting to cut payments to dialysis clinics, many lawmakers seek a reversal

Aug 30 2013

On Capitol Hill, some lawmakers are rethinking the Medicare policy for kidney patients because clinics argue they may have to close or cut services. Elsewhere, the president of the American Medical Association is optimistic Congress will change Medicare's payment formula and a Republican senator wants all congressional staff to get coverage in Obamacare's exchanges.

The New York Times: In Congress, A Bid To Undo Dialysis Cuts
Eight months ago, Congress ordered the Obama administration to eliminate a stark example of federal government waste: more than $500 million a year in excessive drug payments being sent to dialysis clinics nationwide. But in a demonstration of just how hard it is to curb spending in Washington, more than 100 of the same members of Congress who voted in January to impose the cut are now trying to push the Obama administration to reverse it or water it down (Lipton, 8/28).

Kaiser Health News: Capsules: AMA President Optimistic About A Fix For Medicare's Doctor Payment Formula
Debated and despised, the Medicare physician payment formula may finally be on the way out – at least that's what AMA President Ardis Hoven believes (Carey, 8/29). 

Roll Call: Heller Wants All Congressional Staff In Obamacare Exchanges
Sen. Dean Heller is asking the Office of Management and Budget to require all congressional staff to get health care through the new exchanges. The Nevada Republican's letter comes one day after two other Senate Republicans announced legislation to require senior executive branch officials and all congressional staff to get their health care through the Obamacare exchanges. Those senators were Michael B. Enzi of Wyoming and David Vitter of Louisiana (Lesniewski, 8/28).