The Medicare physician fee fix was not included as in the House health care reform bill.
It was introduced as a separate bill.
The final rule on the Medicare fee schedule is expected out late today.
The House yesterday released its final bill on health care reform, the Affordable Health Care for America Act (H.R. 3962). Go to the Community Oncology Alliance (COA) website at www.communityoncology.org under Immediate Action Needed to access the bill, a summary, section-by-section analysis, and timeline.
Most notably, the House health care reform bill did not include the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule fix. The fix was included in another bill, the Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act (H.R. 3961). This bill would rebase the sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula in averting the 21.5% Medicare cut in 2010. COA will provide more input on this bill and its chances for passing in light of the recent failed attempt in the Senate to advance separate (S. 1776) legislation to fix the Medicare fee schedule. A copy of H.R. 3961 is also available on the COA website.
It is expected that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will release the final rule on the 2010 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule today, most likely after the stock market closes at 4:00 PM EDT. We will report on that when available.
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