MINNEAPOLIS, July 7, 2008—The American Medical Association has notified the MMA that Wednesday, July 9, is the day that will likely determine if the Senate can pass HR 6331, the bill already passed in the House that must be passed by July 10 to avoid the 10.6 percent cut in Medicare reimbursements to physicians.

Procedurally, the Wednesday vote is for cloture. An identical cloture motion failed on June 27 by a single vote. If the cloture voter succeeds, HR 6331 itself will then be voted upon by the Senate.

The AMA is stressing that failure to pass the bill hurts a lot more people than physicians. Senior citizens on Medicare and veterans of the armed forces insured by Tricare will be hit hard by the cuts.

No Senators have publicly indicated that they are switching votes, but the AMA is hopeful that the same senators who voted in support the last time will stand with them again, and that one or two others will join them in voting for HR 6331.

Both of Minnesota's senators, Norm Coleman and Amy Klobuchar, have voted for the bill and are expected to do so again. 

A presidential veto is likely, according to AMA sources, but the outcome of a veto is uncertain at this time.