The Republican-controlled Michigan Senate has killed a proposal to tax doctors to raise more money for the state budget
Wednesday, October 28, 2009 at 4:49 p.m.
Read more: State, Health, Politics
(AP) -- The Republican-controlled Michigan Senate has killed a proposal to tax doctors to raise more money for the state budget.
Tuesday's 32-4 vote against the 3 percent gross receipts tax came after the Democratic-led House approved it earlier in the month.
Opponents, including the Michigan State Medical Society, say the tax would drive doctors out of the state and reduce access to health care.
Supporters, including some physicians, say the tax would give doctors who see Medicaid patients higher reimbursement rates instead of the 8 percent cut contained in the current budget plan.
Democrats expressed frustration that Republicans quickly discharged the legislation from committee without giving an opportunity to improve the bill before the vote.
(Copyright ©2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
