News

June 28, 2008

Senate stalls Medicare funding

Affects funds for hospitals after Sept.

By Andrew M. Seder aseder@timesleader.com
Times Leader Staff Writer
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A bill that included higher Medicare reimbursements for 11 area hospitals and the extension of multiple expiring provisions under the Medicare program hit a blockade late Thursday night in the U.S. Senate. Just two days earlier the legislation sailed through the U.S. House by a bipartisan 355-59 vote.

One of the bill’s components is the extension of Section 508 of the Medicare Modernization Act through Sept. 30, 2009. It’s set to expire that same date this year. That section impacts hospitals throughout rural portions of the nation, including Northeastern Pennsylvania. Had the bill been approved, the regional hospitals would be assured of receiving these Medicare reimbursements totaling more than $42 million, including almost $34 million for the eight hospitals in the 11th Congressional District.

Among the hospitals scheduled to receive the continued funding if the bill becomes law are Wyoming Valley Health Care System, $9.3 million; Mercy Hospital, $6.4 million; Community Medical Center, $5.5 million; Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre, $3.75 million; Moses Taylor, $3.4 million; Geisinger Wyoming Valley, $3.4 million; Berwick Hospital, $1.2 million; Bloomsburg Hospital, $875,000.

Republican senators blocked efforts by Democrats to call up the bill with a 58-40 vote, leaving supporters two votes short of the 60 needed to close debate and vote on the bill. Though senators on both sides support the majority of the provisions, some Republican senators took exception to the way the vote was handled.

The close vote prompted an angry exchange of words between Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky.

The two senators representing Pennsylvania cast differing votes on the motion to proceed with the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008. Republican Arlen Specter of Philadelphia voted along with 39 others against the motion to proceed, while Robert Casey, a Scranton Democrat, was one of 58 senators voting in favor of the bill.

Specter defended his vote Friday during a conference call with reporters, saying he supports the idea of extending the programs included in the bill but felt he had to vote the way he did because of what he felt was a lack of negotiating with Democratic leadership.

“I voted against (the motion) because I was given the bill Thursday night with the ultimatum to either take it or leave it, with no opportunity to offer any amendments because the House of Representatives had left town,” Specter said.

He chided Reid for failing to allow the time-honored Senate tradition of amendments and for making the bill “a political test.”

In a phone interview Friday afternoon, Casey addressed his disappointment in the outcome and the perceived partisan politics at play. He called the setback temporary and predicted the bill will be approved by summer’s end. He said in a year when time is of the essence, because of the presidential and congressional elections, delaying bills for political bickering is not what Americans need.

“I don’t know why we need to wait another 30 or 40 days to get this done. We could and should have done this (Thursday) night,” Casey said.

Specter agreed with Casey that the Senate would take up the matter again soon and expects the extensions and higher Medicare reimbursements for area hospitals to be safe.

Casey discussed Section 508, offering the message that it was not an impediment to the bill and saying he foresees no reason it won’t be included when the bill is finally voted on.

While the extension is in a holding pattern, a spokesman for two local hospitals said hospitals wouldn’t have to sit on pins and needles each year wondering whether the funding formula will be approved.

“Continuation of the Medicare Wage Index reclassification is important for all hospitals in Northeast Pennsylvania,” said Geisinger spokesman Dave Jolley. “Our elected officials have been supportive in seeking a permanent fix to this issue, and we look forward to a long-term resolution.”

Andrew M. Seder, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 570-829-7269.

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