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Alaskan Congressman Don Young voted today to override the President’s veto of H.R. 6331, the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008, which has a permanent fix for Medicare in Alaska successfully secured by the Alaskan Delegation. This 35% permanent increase to the Medicare Geographic Practice Cost Index will go into effect January 1, 2009 and will encourage physicians to serve Medicare patients throughout the state. Nationally, this bill provides a physician fix which will prevent a 10.6% pay-cut, continues the 0.5% increase in payments for 2008, and provides a 1.1% increase for 2009. This veto override passed 383-41.

"Without the permanent fix in this bill, doctors would continue to be reimbursed at less than half the actual costs associated with Medicare visits and seniors would be in real danger of losing accessible health care," said Rep. Young. "I don’t like to vote against the President, but I have to on this vote; he is wrong to veto this bill. This is one of the best health care bills we’ve ever passed for Alaska and it makes me extremely proud to be a part of it. The veto override still needs to go through the Senate, and I look forward to it succeeding there. Having this bill signed into law is good for the future of Alaskan elders."

Reauthorize the Special Diabetes Programs for Type 1 Diabetes and the Special Diabetes Programs for Native Alaskan/American Indians for two years.

Ensure patient access to necessary physical therapy services by extending the therapy cap exceptions process as well as prevent Medicare patients that have already exceeded the $1810 cap during the first six months of the year, from being denied additional therapy services.

Improve access to telehealth services by making these services available to seniors through Medicare at more types of health facilities, including hospital-based renal dialysis facilities, skilled nursing facilities, and community health centers.