The Senate today voted 62-36 to pass the American Workers, State, and Business Relief Act of 2010 (H.R. 4213), which includes several critical provisions for hospitals. The Senate's latest jobs bill, the measure next goes to the House for consideration. The bill would extend through Dec. 31, 2010 the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act's COBRA benefit subsidy and extends for six months the temporary increase in states' Federal Medical Assistance Percentage. It also would delay a 21% Medicare payment cut for physicians until Sept. 30, extend several rural health programs through 2010, and ensure that physicians who practice in hospital-owned outpatient centers and clinics qualify for the ARRA's health information technology incentives.