XXXX Voted Against Increased Medicare Payments To Doctors, Flood Insurance, And Extending Unemployment Benefits. In April 2010, XXXX voted against passage of the bill that would extend for two months federal unemployment benefits, flood insurance programs, increased payment rates to Medicare providers and COBRA health care premium assistance. It would provide for payment to certain previously furloughed transportation workers. It also would extend for one month certain satellite TV laws and small business lending programs. [Vote 117, 4/15/10] XXXX Voted Against Stopping Steep Cuts to Medicare’s Physician Payment Rates. In October 2009, XXXX voted to consider a bill that would spend roughly $245 billion to end steep cuts to Medicare’s physician payment rates. The bill would sunset the formula that modifies Medicare reimbursements for physicians each year and replace it with a formula that keeps that reimbursement rate constant. The American Medical Association and AARP have made repeal of the Medicare cost-control formula that demands deep cuts to physician pay each year a top priority. The motion to invoke cloture failed 47-53. [CQ Today, 10/21/09; Vote 325, 10/21/09] XXXX Voted To Avoid Scheduled Cuts to Medicare Physician Payment Rates. In July 2008, XXXX voted to override President Bush’s veto of a Medicare bill that would avoid a scheduled 10.6 percent cut to Medicare’s physician payment rates. Those cuts total $12.5 billion over five years, according to the Congressional Budget Office. The bill would do so by cutting payments to the private Medicare plans known as Medicare Advantage. [CQ Today, 7/15/08; Vote 177, 7/15/08]  XXXX Earlier Voted To Avoid Cuts to Medicare Doctor Payment Rates. In July 2008, XXXX voted to consider a bill that would replace a 10.6 percent cut to Medicare’s physician pay rates with 18 months of stable payments. The measure would also cut bonus payments to private Medicare plans known as Medicare Advantage. Those cuts total $12.5 billion over five years, according to the Congressional Budget Office. The Senate passed the bill on a voice vote after the motion to invoke cloture passed 69-30. [CQ Today, 7/09/08; Vote 169, 7/09/08]  XXXX Voted To Increase Doctor Payments Under Medicare. In June 2008, XXXX voted to consider a bill that would reverse a scheduled10.6 percent cut in physician payments under Medicare and provide doctors with a 1.1 percent pay increase in 2009, which would cost $9.9 billion through 2010, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Altogether, the bill would cost $19.8 billion over five years and would cover those costs primarily by cutting costs from Medicare Advantage. The motion to invoke cloture failed 54-39. [CQ Today, 6/12/08; Vote 149, 6/12/08] XXXX Voted to Force Medicaid and Medicare Cuts. In 2006, XXXX joined with Senate Republicans who unsuccessfully tried to cut $10 billion in mandatory spending from the FY07 budget. The cuts would have come from the Senate Finance Committee, which had jurisdiction over both Medicare and Medicaid. [Vote 62, 3/16/06] XXXX Voted For Budget Resolution That Cut Medicare by $6.4 Billion and Medicaid by $4.8 Billion. In December 2005, XXXX cast the deciding vote for a budget reconciliation that contained several deep program cuts. The bill cut Medicare by $6.4 billion, and increased Medicare beneficiaries’ premiums for coverage of doctor visits. The bill also cut Medicaid by $4.8 billion, reducing payments for prescription drugs and tightening rules for funds that could be used for nursing home eligibility and allowed states to reduce benefits and increase co-payments paid by beneficiaries. [Vote 363, 12/21/05; Boston Globe, 12/22/05] XXXX Voted For Bill That Cut Medicaid by $4.26 Billion and Medicare by $5.78 Billion. In November 2006, XXXX voted for passage of the Budget Reconciliation bill that made cuts to programs for a net savings of approximately $35 billion over five years. Among other things, the bill cut Medicaid by $4.26 billion and Medicare by $5.78 billion. [Vote 303, 11/3/05] XXXX Voted For Increased Premiums for Medicare Beneficiaries. In November 2005 XXXX voted against an amendment that would have made Medicare beneficiaries harmless for the increase in the 2007 Medicare monthly part B premium that would otherwise occur because of the 2006 increase in payments under the physician fee schedule. [Vote 287, 11/3/05] 160