Academy members were instrumental in the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (H.R. 6331) becoming law early this week. The congressional override of President Bush’s veto of H.R. 6331 provides a temporary but significant 18-month reprieve from the sustainable growth rate crisis and is the first time Congress has provided a full Medicare Payment Advisory Commission-recommended update for physicians. The Medicare fee fix drew support from both sides of the aisle, with a 383-41 vote in the House and a 70-26 vote in the Senate. The legislation wipes away the devastating 10.6 percent physician payment cut implemented July 1 and the 5.5 percent cut scheduled for Jan. 1, 2009. Instead, the 0.5 percent positive payment update has been reinstated through 2008, and a 1.1 percent increase is set for 2009. CMS has said it will automatically reprocess any claims paid at the reduced rate and provide the balances due to physician practices that are shortchanged.