The House yesterday voted 229 to 193 against Senate-approved legislation that would delay Medicare's scheduled 27 percent physician pay cut for two months as part of a payroll-tax extension. With a short- or long-term fix to the sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula likely stalled until after Jan. 1, 2012, industry groups expressed outrage that Congress once again left the matter in limbo until the last minute.

"Medicare patients should not become the collateral damage of a political battle," Joyce Rogers, senior vice president of AARP, the largest advocacy organization for the elderly, told Bloomberg Businessweek. "Congress should pass legislation that reinforces doctors' faith in the Medicare payment system and gives current and future Medicare beneficiaries the security of knowing that they can get the care they need."

American Medical Association President Dr. Peter W. Carmel also stated, "Congress had the entire year to repeal the broken physician payment formula and provide stability for the millions of seniors and military families who rely on Medicare and TRICARE but has failed to act. It is long past time for members of Congress to act decisively and protect access to care for seniors and military families."

With a change to the "negative update" in Medicare physician pay still possible, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) advised providers Monday that it will hold claims for the first 10 business days in January (until Jan. 17, 2012). According to CMS, "the hold should have minimal impact on provider cash flow because, under current law, clean electronic claims are not paid sooner than 14 calendar days (29 days for paper claims) after the date of receipt."

To learn more:
- read the article from Bloomberg Businessweek
- see the article from Internal Medicine News

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