Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Medicare fix update

The House approved a Medicare fix bill today by a veto-proof margin. The National Journal reports that Senators Baucus and Grassley have reached a compromise that may lead to enactment of a law this month. According to the National Journal,
Baucus did not discuss details of the compromise he worked out with Senate Finance ranking member Charles Grassley, but industry sources say the compromise prevents a 10.6 percent Medicare physician pay cut for 18 months by giving physicians a 0.5 percent Medicare payment increase in 2008 and freezing payments in 2009. By contrast, the House-passed measure bumps up physicians' pay 1.1 percent in 2009.
Previously CMS announced that any Medicare fix law enacted after June 16 must be applied retroactively.

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