Medicare’s Mandated 21% Cut of Pay for Physicians is
Delayed Until April 1
Senate Democrats push through the bill late Tuesday,
President Obama signs it
March 4, 2010 – The newspaper for members of the
American Medical Association reported yesterday that late Tuesday night
Senate Democrats “were able to overcome a procedural roadblock that led
to an unprecedented 21% cut in Medicare physician pay taking effect the
day before. But the development bought Congress only about a month to
approve a longer-term solution before the reduction comes back.”
The severe cuts in pay for treating Medicare and
TRICARE, the health insurance program for military families, could cause
many doctors to stop treating these patients.
The American Medical News report by David
Glendinning said, ”The Senate passage, by a 78-19 vote, of the Temporary
Extension Act of 2010 stops the across-the-board doctor pay cut and
freezes current rates through March 31.
“The bill, which the House passed Feb. 25, also
extends numerous unemployment and health assistance programs through the
end of March. President Obama signed the bill immediately.
“After the vote, the American Medical Association
called on the Senate to take the next step by passing a separate
House-passed bill overhauling the pay system.”
AMA President J. James Rohack, MD, said in a
statement, "The Senate should use this time to permanently repeal the
flawed Medicare physician payment formula that puts access to care for
seniors and military families at risk.
"AMA physicians are in Washington today meeting
directly with their senators to urge them to act now on permanent
reform. Access to health care for seniors, disabled and military
families hangs in the balance."
The AMA publication suggests that this action could
mean “that physicians might not see a single Medicare check come back
with the 21% reduction applied. As the cut took effect, the Centers for
Medicare & Medicaid Services said it would hold March physician claims
for 10 business days, giving the Senate more time to approve a patch
retroactive to the first of the month.
Doctors face 21% pay cut from Medicare in 2010; same
annual quandary Democrats tried to fix; senior citizens many find it
harder to get a doctor; AMA issues new list of states with problems
By
Tucker Sutherland, editor & publisher
SeniorJournal.com
March 4, 2010 – The newspaper for members of the
American Medical Association reported yesterday that late Tuesday night
Senate Democrats “were able to overcome a procedural roadblock that led
to an unprecedented 21% cut in Medicare physician pay taking effect the
day before. But the development bought Congress only about a month to
approve a longer-term solution before the reduction comes back.” 
