Rep. John Dingell (D-MI)

The House Wednesday approved by a veto-proof margin abill that would delay the implementation of seven onerous Medicaid regulationsuntil April 1, 2009.

Lawmakers approved by a vote of 349-62 Protecting theMedicaid Safety Net Act of 2008 (H.R. 5613). The legislation would place amoratorium on pending regulations that, among other consequences, restrict theuse of the allowable provider tax and curtail Medicaid funding to government-fundedskilled nursing facilities and other healthcare facilities. One rule that limits provider taxes was scheduled to go into effect on Tuesday. The Bushadministration on Tuesday has threatened to veto the legislation, which nowmoves to the Senate.

Meanwhile, the Congressional Budget Office issued areport estimating that the bill, on net, would reduce direct spending by $3million over the 2008-2013 period. Reps. John Dingell (D-MI) and Tim Murphy(R-PA) sponsored the legislation.