The U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 3162, the Children’s Health and Medicare Protection Act of 2007 (CHIP), August 1, 2007. The legislation halts cuts to 2008 Medicare physician payments, which were estimated to total 15 percent over the next two years, and reauthorizes the Children’s Health Insurance Program. The Senate passed a companion bill (S.976) the same day that focuses solely on CHIP reauthorization.

According to reports from congressional staff members, Medicare provisions, including provisions that address cuts to physician payments, will be separated from deliberations around CHIP reauthorization legislation and will be taken up separately by the House and Senate in the coming weeks.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) will keep members abreast of updates to payment legislation via the Weekly Update.