Last week, Congress overrode Bush's veto of legislation that was designed to prevent a 10.6 percent cut in doctor's reimbursement rates for treating Medicare patients. The veto was overridden by Congress. Without the decision to override the veto, many doctors and hospitals might have stopped treating Medicare patients.

Senator Pat Roberts said, "It was the right thing to do for Kansas seniors, for military families and our health care providers." He went on to say, "We staved off a real disaster." Roberts spoke at a news conference at Stormont-Vail Healthcare.

Of the Kansas congressional delegation, every member voted to override Bush except U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback, a Republican.
At the news conference, Roberts was backed up by the Kansas chapter of AARP, Kansas Hospital Association, Kansas Medical Society, Kansas Pharmacy Society, doctors and patients.

Roberts said expansion of health care coverage, including coverage for everyone, would be a major topic next year regardless of whether Republican John McCain or Democrat Barack Obama wins the presidential race.

"To go to universal health care is a giant step. I would hope that when we do that we would put patient choice, patient access, and a market oriented program, (in there) if we could.

"Whether or not we can do that I don't know, but I know it will be a front-burner issue," he said.

For the American College of Radiology statement, go to:
http://www.acr.org/MainMenuCategories/media_room/FeaturedCategories/PressReleases/ACRResponsetoGAOImagingReport.aspx

For the American College of Physicians statement, go to:
http://www.acponline.org/pressroom/medicare_veto.htm

For the bill's specific impact on nuclear medicine, go to:
https://www.dotmed.com/news/story/6548/

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