Republicans failed this week in efforts to pass 2 amendments that could have affected the Medicare Advantage program.
The Republicans tried to attach the amendments to the budget resolution, a document that is supposed to guide Congress when it starts budget negotiations later this year.
Although the budget resolution does not directly affect appropriations, Senate rules let appropriations bills that follow budget resolution guidelines pass the Senate via majority votes.
Under regular order, a bill needs 60 votes to get through the Senate without running the risk of facing a filibuster.
Members of the Senate voted 50-49 against Amendment Number 508.
Amendment Number 508, offered by Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, would have protected the Medicare Advantage program by establishing a budget-neutral reserve fund, to keep Congress from implementing improvements in Medicare, Medicaid or the State Children's Health Insurance Plans in a way that would lead to fewer coverage choices for Medicare beneficiaries.
