Senate Votes to Keep Medicare Cuts in Health Care Overhaul Bill

The Senate has voted 58-42 to reject an amendment that would have stripped over $400 billion in Medicare cuts from the health care overhaul bill. Despite polls showing seniors are concerned about their benefits, Democrats argued that the cuts will help keep Medicare solvent and that no guaranteed benefits will be lost. Republicans, however, claimed that the cuts to health insurance plans and medical providers will mean seniors in the popular Medicare Advantage program will lose some benefits. The move has sparked concern among seniors and health care providers, who fear the cuts will have a significant impact on their benefits and access to care.

Key Takeaways:

• The Senate voted 58-42 to reject an amendment that would have stripped over $400 billion in Medicare cuts from the health care overhaul bill.
• Democrats argued that the cuts will help keep Medicare solvent and that no guaranteed benefits will be lost.
• Republicans claimed that the cuts to health insurance plans and medical providers will mean seniors in the popular Medicare Advantage program will lose some benefits.
• AARP threw its support behind the Democrats in the vote.
• The measure will send the bill back to the Senate Finance Committee for a redo.
• Democrats have 60 votes in the Senate, but two Democratic senators voted against the amendment.
• The Mikulski amendment, which was passed earlier in the day, gives the health and human services secretary authority to require health plans to cover additional preventive services for women.

Statistics:

• $400 billion: The amount in Medicare cuts that the amendment would have stripped from the health care overhaul bill.
• 940 million: The cost of the Mikulski amendment over a decade, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
• 61-39: The vote on the Mikulski amendment, which safeguarded coverage of mammograms and preventive screening tests for women.
• 58-42: The vote to reject the McCain amendment that would have stripped the Medicare cuts.
• 60: The number of votes Democrats have in the Senate.

Sources:

• Associated Press (AP) story: "Senate Casts First Votes on Remaking Health Care System"
• Senate Vote on McCain Amendment (September 24, 2009)
• Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Estimate of Mikulski Amendment (September 23, 2009)
• AARP Press Release: "AARP Supports Senate Passage of Health Care Reform with All Necessary Amendments" (September 22, 2009)