2010-06-22

House Democratic leaders have stated that they will not take up a Senate-passed six-month patch to Medicare provider payments unless the Senate acts to pass certain jobs measures. The Senate passed a stripped-down bill that would provide a six month (until November 30) increase of 2.2 percent in physician pay on June 18, in hopes that the House would follow suit early this week. But, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi released a statement calling the Senate bill an insufficient temporary fix. Concerns over increasing the deficit have been a major obstacle to moving the physician fee provisions as well as the Senate's broader tax and benefits package, which contains the jobs-related provisions that Pelosi wants to pass.

The face-off between the two chambers may further delay any action to stop the 21 percent cuts in payment rates that doctors began experiencing June 18 when the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services began processing payments dating back to June 1, when the cut was slated to go into effect. The agency had delayed processing payments for almost three weeks in anticipation of congressional action, but said it could wait no longer. The agency said it would swiftly process retroactive payments if a patch were enacted into law.

Physicians are encouraged to contact Congress to explain how the continued instability in Medicare payment is causing problems for physician practices and patients. Please visit the ASH Advocacy Center to join ASH's campaign and contact your senators and representative.

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