On Thursday, November 18 the U.S. Senate passed a one-month extension of the current Medicare physician payment rates in an effort to avert a 23 percent cut scheduled to take effect Dec. 1. Now the U.S. House must approve the extension, which is intended to give lawmakers additional time to work out a longer-term solution. The House should take up the measure on November 29. Stay tuned for more news and thanks to all who contacted their elected officials last week on this important issue.