Bush vetoes Medicare bill

President Bush vetoed legislation Tuesday that would undo a 10.6 percent cut in Medicare fees to physicians.

The expected veto sets up action in the House and Senate, with both chambers planning on holding votes later Tuesday aiming to overturn Bush’s veto. 

{mosads}The president does not oppose the main purpose of the bill, which is to undo the physician fee cut that took effect on July 1. Instead, he rejects Democrats’ method of offsetting the cost of the measure by reducing spending on private Medicare Advantage (MA) plans.

“I support the primary objective of this legislation, to forestall reductions in physician payments. Yet taking choices away from seniors to pay physicians is wrong,” Bush said in his veto message to the House, where the bill originated.

“Because this bill would severely damage the Medicare program by undermining the Medicare Part D program and by reducing access, benefits and choices for all beneficiaries, particularly the approximately 9.6 million beneficiaries in MA, I must veto this bill,” Bush wrote.

Successful override votes in both chambers would mark the third time Congress has undone vetoes during the Bush administration. Bush has vetoed nine bills during his presidency, the first in 2006. Congress has overridden just two: the Water Resources Development Act in 2007 and the farm bill this year.

The president also takes issue with changes to the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit and a delay in a competitive bidding program for durable medical equipment.

Bush’s hopes of sustaining the veto appear to be slim even though overturning it would require two-thirds majorities in both chambers of Congress.

The House passed the bill 355-59 last month. Though the Senate’s 69-30 tally is narrower, many Republicans who have already voted for the bill have publicly stated their support of the override.

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.), the original author of the measure, sought to underscore the political consequences facing Republicans who might consider switching their votes and supporting the president’s veto.

 “Everyone who voted ‘yes’ on this Medicare bill made a promise to seniors and military families, to protect their healthcare. We have to keep our promises now,” Baucus said in a statement.