Washington Week: Congress Approves SGR Delay MedPage Today
WASHINGTON -- President Obama signed a bill Thursday that delays a 21% cut in Medicare reimbursements to physicians until June 1, and implementation of the new healthcare reform law began in earnest last week.
Following weeks of debate, Senate and the House enacted legislation Thursday that would temporarily postpone the reduction in payments mandated by the sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula -- a Medicare accounting scheme that links Part B reimbursement rates to increases in the gross domestic product (GDP).
The 21% cut officially took effect April 1, but the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has held off paying claims since then in anticipation of congressional action, so that doctors have yet to feel the sting.
The SGR provision is part of a much broader bill that temporarily funds several federal programs that have expired, including extended unemployment benefits, COBRA health insurance subsidies for the unemployed, and the national flood insurance program.
Washington PostALSO, Our partners at the WA Small Business for Secure Health Care Coalition just launched an online petition for small businesses who support having the choice of buying into a public health insurance plan. If you're a small business owner or are 6/18: Is Health Care Reform In Danger? Campbell: Republicans, Democrats must take healthcare conversation Results tagged “health care policy”
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