DeGette Votes To Override Veto Of Medicare Bill

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO), Vice Chair of theCommittee on Energy and Commerce, today made the following statement insupport of overriding President Bush's veto of H.R. 6331, the MedicareImprovements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008. The Housesupported this measure on a vote of 383 to 41.

"I am proud to override the President's veto of this measuretoday, which not only will eliminate the scheduled ten percent cut toMedicare physicians, but it will also provide a 1.1 percent update for2009. A rate update is desperately needed to maintain quality care forMedicare patients. Ignoring this problem any longer would bedevastating to patient care across Colorado and the nation.

"This measure also includes a two-year reauthorization of the SpecialDiabetes Programs for Type 1 Diabetes. I have been working to supportand reauthorize these programs for many years, and thanks to over adecade of investment in the Special Diabetes Programs, which werecreated in 1997, we can point to tangible and significant progress—suchas the creation of an artificial pancreas—that is improving the livesof many people."

U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette is also the co-chair of the House Diabetes Caucus.