Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives have filed a lawsuit seeking to overturn the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, which among other provisions would cut $2.8 billion in Medicare payments for imaging services performed outside hospitals.
The lawsuit was filed last week in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, according to a story by TheHill.com. Rep. John Conyers Jr. (D-MI) and Rep. John Dingell (D-MI) are leading the effort, with nine other colleagues on board, the Web site reported.
The lawsuit claims that the DRA is unconstitutional because the version passed by the Senate and signed by President George W. Bush is different from the version passed by the House due to a clerk's error. The U.S. Constitution requires that identical legislation be passed by the House and Senate, then signed by the president, before a bill can become law.
Several lawsuits have already been filed against the DRA, and House Democrats have also sponsored a resolution urging an investigation into the signing of the law.
By AuntMinnie.com staff writers
May 1, 2006
Related Reading
DRA 2005 in practice: Where the rubber meets the road, April 27, 2005
Opposition grows to DRA law within House, April 3, 2006
House resolution urges DRA investigation, March 31, 2006
House Demos criticize Bush on DRA signing, March 24, 2006
Public Citizen files lawsuit against DRA, March 22, 2006
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