SGR Update
Dear MCMS Member:
Happy New Year! 2013 starts off with some better news than we expected. Thanks to our friends at ArMA for providing the updates hot off the press. We are now circling back around to keep you "InforMED" and share the news.
The nearly 30% cut in Medicare physician payments was averted on Jan.1 when the House of Representatives passed H.R. 8 the American Taxpayer Relief Act, also known as the Middle Class Tax Relief Act. Previously the Senate approved the package on a vote of 89-8.
If this topic or topics like these are of interest to you, please call me or simply reply by e-mail. Our Board has a variety of advocacy and volunteer opportunities for you.
Please consider joining a Committee at Maricopa County Medical Society (MCMS); such as Mentoring, Public Health, or Education. Maybe you'd like to learn more about how to engage in policy making or testify before a Committee on a pending bill? Would you like to write an article for our monthly publication of Round-up? We need your smart, active engagement to continue to advance the medical profession.
Please contact us today at 602.252.2015. We have a series of educational webinars and events planned for 2013. Sign up today to teach a 20 minute class in your specialty area or to participate in our non-profit work to improve the profession.
The following health provisions were included in the package:
- Extends current Medicare physician payment rates through Dec. 31, 2013 (avoids 26% SGR cut).
- Extends Geographic Work Adjustment (1.0 floor) through Dec. 31, 2013.
- Defers sequestration cuts for two months (2% cut in Medicare payments and larger program cuts for other health programs - research/public health/health professions training).
- Includes provisions to create path to improve the provision of relevant and timely data to physicians needed in new delivery and payment models.
- Allows physician participation in clinical registries to meet Medicare quality reporting requirements.
- Provides one year re-authorization of funding for National Quality Forum.
The $25 billion cost just for the SGR patch and additional expenses for other Medicare extender provisions were offset with an array of provisions. On a positive note, proposals to eliminate the increase in Medicaid payments for primary care services and remaining funds for prevention (ACA provisions) were not adopted. Unfortunately, payments for advanced imaging services will be reduced based on a change in assumptions regarding the utilization of equipment. Other offsets included extending the statute of limitations from three to five years for re-coupment of overpayments and elimination of unobligated funds for health insurance co-ops authorized by the Affordable Care Act. Existing obligations to health insurance co-ops will be honored.
Thank you to all who have participated in the efforts over the past months and years and have contributed to this outcome.
We ask everyone in the physician community to join with us in continued pressure on Congress to permanently repeal the SGR to enable medicine and policymakers to focus on delivery and payment reforms which is the proper course of action.
In good health,
Sara Presler
CEO & Executive Director
Maricopa County Medical Society
