Senate Passes Legislation to Halt Medicare Physician Payment Cuts
Last evening, the Senate passed legislation halt Medicare physician payment cuts that were scheduled to take effect on January 1. President Biden is expected to sign the bill into law.
Highlights of the physician payment provisions include:
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A delay in resuming the 2% Medicare sequester for three months (January 1- March 31, 2022), followed by a reduction to 1% for three months (April 1-June 30, 2022).
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A one-year increase in the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule of 3% (0.75% less than the conversion factor boost provided for 2021).
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A one-year delay in the cuts to the clinical lab fee schedule.
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A one year delay in the Medicare radiation oncology demonstration.
The American Medical Association (AMA) released the following statement on tonight’s Senate vote to avert looming Medicare cuts to providers.
AMA: Patients and Physicians Grateful for Congress Fending Off Medicare Cuts
Statement attributable to:
Gerald E. Harmon, M.D.
President, American Medical Association
“The wheels of Congress don’t always move quickly, but today they did move toward preserving the viability of physician practices and maintaining access to care.
“Potential reductions in Medicare payments for physician services hung over the heads of patients and practices like a sword of Damocles. The Senate action today, following a similar House vote this week, would delay the reductions and give Congress time to work on reforms to address the flaws in the Medicare payment system.
“There is no need to wait for the last minute to start working on the systemic problems. These automatic cuts should remind members of the needed reforms. Congress can get a head start on doing the right thing when it reconvenes early next year.”