Keyword: Advocacy

First Tuesday Blog
01/04/2013
First Tuesday Blog 2013

Tentative Band-Aid Agreement for SGR
02/17/2012
Tentative Band-Aid Agreement for SGR In a move all too familiar to physicians, the Senate and House have agreed to a deal that would avert a 27.4 percent cut in the reimbursement rate for physicians under Medicare. As of this writing, the agreement is waiting for the President’s signature. In a fit of irony, applying this band-aid, where a tourniquet is needed, will cost nearly $21 billion over 10 years. And, it would be partially paid for with cuts from Medicaid and Medicare. The deal would extend the current fee schedule until the end of the year, at which time physician practices would face an estimated 35 percent payment threat from Medicare in 2013. One other provision also requires that the Government Accountability Office and HHS submit reports to help Congress develop a long-term replacement of the existing Medicare physician payment system. Part of the wrangling over the deal centered on how to pay for it. The bi-partisan agreement will require about $11.6 billion in cuts to the Affordable Care Act (ACA)—including more than $4 billion in Medicaid spending reductions. The health care savings that do not come from the ACA total $9.6 billion. They include lowering the reimbursement level that Medicare pays hospitals and skilled nursing facilities for bad debt and reducing payment rates for clinical laboratory services by 2 percent. While this agreement averts a disastrous cut on March 1, it is a serious missed opportunity to permanently replace the flawed Medicare physician payment formula. It buys time for Washington politicians during an election year,  however, it adds another $25 billion to the cost of a permanent solution. Tentative Band-Aid Agreement for SGR Submitted by HCMS Board of Medical Legislation

Key Dates for Join Select Committee on Deficit Reduction
09/02/2011
Key Dates for Join Select Committee on Deficit Reduction

Legislative Update - US Congress - April 28, 2011
04/28/2011
US Congress Legislative Update April 28, 2011

Legislative Update – March 28, 2011
04/04/2011
Legislative Update – March 28, 2011

Legislative Update - March 14, 2011
03/15/2011
Legislative Update - March 14, 2011

Legislative Update March 7, 2011
03/07/2011
Legislative Update March 7, 2011

House Panel Advances Medical Liability Overhaul Along Partisan Lines
02/18/2011
House Panel Advances Medical Liability Overhaul Along Partisan Lines,  article,  payment advocacy

TMA Reimbursement Consultations
08/31/2010
TMA Reimbursement Consultations - Free

Medicare Meltdown Materials
03/19/2010
Medicare Meltdown Materials for Your Office