On Wednesday the US House voted to pass a defense spending bill that contains a provision to postpone the planned 21.2% physician rate cut for Medicare until March 2010. The provision is aimed at ensuring the rate issue is addressed even if the health care debate extends past January 1, 2010, the date the cut is scheduled to take effect. The perennial cuts generated by the sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula since 2003 have fueled a major push from physicians to have the issue resolved as a component of health system reform. The Senate is scheduled to vote on the $636 billion defense spending bill on or before Friday.