The Senate has voted to end debate on the Bipartisan Budget Act, a two-year plan that would extend sequestration cuts through 2023, according to a report from The Hill.
The Senate voted today to invoke cloture on the legislation, which means a final vote will likely come tomorrow, according to the report. Senate Budget Committee Chairman Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) released the proposal earlier this week. It temporarily reduces spending cuts under sequestration by $63 billion during the next two years, according to the report.
However, it also includes $28 billion in spending cuts over 10 years by requiring the president to maintain sequestration cuts in 2022 and 2023, maintaining the reductions at the same percentage of budgetary resources that will be cut in 2021 in accordance with current law.
The deal also contains a House amendment that would delay a 24 percent Medicare reimbursement reduction for physicians required by the program's sustainable growth rate and physicians a 0.5 percent payment update through March 2014, giving lawmakers extra time to repeal and replace the SGR. The proposal would also delay Medicaid disproportionate share hospital payment reductions set to begin next year and last through 2022, shifting the cuts to 2016 through 2023.
The legislation has drawn criticism from the Federation of American Hospitals. FAH President Chip Kahn told The Hill he expects the proposal will pass, but the group still intends to lobby against the cuts next year. Following the plan's release, he released a statement saying the agreement "sustains bad budget policy" by maintaining and extending "arbitrary Medicare sequester cuts." He wrote members of Congress should oppose the budget deal because it threatens Medicare beneficiaries' access to care.
The Greater New York Hospital Association has also expressed disapproval, sending a memo to members saying the organization is "extremely disappointed" the agreement will extend sequestration cuts.
If the Senate passes the bill, it will advance to President Barack Obama, who supports the measure, according to the report.
More Articles on the Federal Budget:
House Passes Budget Deal Including Sequestration Extension
Congress Introduces Budget Deal Maintaining Sequestration, Medicare Cuts
Hospital Advocacy Groups Vow to Lobby Against Budget Deal's Medicare Cuts