Durbin Generates Senate Support
For Medicare IME
April 26, 2002- Senator Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) is
asking his Senate colleagues to sign on to a letter and legislation
in support of Indirect Medical Education (IME) payments. Sen.
Durbin plans to introduce legislation that would prevent the
Medicare IME payments from being reduced from 6.5 percent
to 5.5 percent and is seeking bipartisan support for the bill.
Sen. Durbin is also circulating a "Democrats only"
letter that would be sent to Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle
(D-S.D.) and Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus
(D-Mont.) asking for IME relief be included in any Senate
Medicare provider relief package.
Sen. Durbin is interested in introducing the IME legislation
the week of April 29, as he believes it is important to target
Medicare relief to teaching hospitals. "The Teaching
Hospital Preservation Act" would prevent the upcoming
15 percent reduction to IME payments, maintaining its current
level at 6.5 percent. Sen. Durbin is seeking bipartisan support
for the legislation. As of April 25, Sens. Cleland (D-Ga.)
Clinton (D-N.Y.), Feinstein (D-Calif.), Helms (R-N.C.), Kennedy
(D-Mass.), Landrieu (D-La.), Murray (D-Wash.), Schumer (D-N.Y.)
and Torricelli (D-N.J.) are original cosponsors.
Sen. Durbin is also circulating a letter to Democrat Senate
colleagues, asking them to sign on to an IME letter addressed
to Sen. Baucus and Daschle. "We would like to see restoration
of the IME cuts included in any Medicare provider legislation
considered by the Senate this year," the letter states,
"and have difficulty supporting any Medicare provider
legislation that does not repeal the IME cut. Moreover, we
strongly urge that the Senate not adjourn this year until
this critical issue of importance to our teaching hospitals
and the patients they serve is adequately addressed."
As of April 25, Sens. Biden (D-Del.), Cleland (D-Ga.) Clinton
(D-N.Y.), Corzine (D-N.J.), Feinstein (D-Calif.), Kennedy
(D-Mass.), Kerry (D-Mass.), Landrieu (D-La.), Levin (D-Mich.),
Murray (D-Wash.), Reed (D-R.I.), Sarbanes (D-Md.), Schumer
(D-N.J.), and Torricelli (D-N.J.) have agreed to signed the
letter.
Information:
Lynne Davis Boyle, Assistant Vice President
AAMC Office of Governmental Relations
ldavisboyle@aamc.org
(202) 828-0526
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