Drugmakers face suits over vaccines that contain thimerosal, which for decades was made by Eli Lilly. -- Tony Dejak / Associated Press

WASHINGTON -- Eli Lilly and Co. and other former or current vaccine makers lost protection from patient lawsuits in a congressional spending bill vote.

The repeal of the provision was part of the $397.4 billion bill Congress approved Thursday night that funds government operations through the rest of the fiscal year.

Families are suing drugmakers for compensation, claiming their children developed autism after receiving vaccines with a mercury-based additive called thimerosal, which for decades was made by Lilly. The barrier to patient lawsuits was approved as part of the law that created the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

"This provision was added in the dark of night, clearly as a payback to powerful political supporters, and it had no place in legislation intended to protect American families," said Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., in an e-mailed statement.

Thimerosal prevents fungal contamination of vaccines. The claims of a link to autism haven't been proved by research, and Lilly denies that its former product caused any autistic symptoms.

The spending bill also would allow Medicare to raise payments to doctors by $54 billion over the next decade.

That may help physician managers such as US Oncology Inc. and Radiologix Inc., and laboratory companies such as AmeriPath Inc.

The bill gives hospitals in rural areas an extra $300 million from Medicare this year.