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Medical Society of New Jersey e-Newsletter
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MSNJ Urges Congress to Pass Medicare Repeal Legislation -
Members Urged to Contact Their Representatives Today
The House will begin to hear debate on H.R. 2, a newly modified bill, the "Medicare & CHIP Reauthorization Act," tomorrow with a vote expected tomorrow afternoon. MSNJ and virtually all of organized medicine support this bill. Our representatives have told us that they support a repeal of the SGR. It is time to remind them to vote for H.R. 2.
If passed by the House tomorrow, the Senate would also need to vote by the end of the week before the spring recess. While the bill is expected to pass in the House, the fate in the Senate is less certain. If the legislation is not passed, Medicare fees are scheduled to be cut by 21% on April 1 before Congress returns from recess.
H.R. 2 builds on the bipartisan, bicameral SGR replacement policy that was negotiated but failed to pass last year. In addition, it includes budget offsets, policy extenders, and other provisions. Additional provisions include:
- The Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) was extended through 2017.
- Funds for Community Health Centers and the National Health Service Corps and the Teaching Health Center GME Payment Program were all extended through 2017.
- The decision by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to eliminate bundled payments for 10-day and 90-day global surgical services has been reversed; instead, CMS will collect data on these services beginning in 2017 to determine the accuracy of payment rates.
- For new enrollees beginning in 2020, Medigap plan coverage will be limited to costs above the amount of the Part B deductible.
- Income-related premiums for Medicare Part B and D under current law have been readjusted; those with incomes between $133,501 and $160,000 will increase from 50 percent to 65 percent, those with incomes at $160,001 and above will increase from 65 percent to 80 percent.
MSNJ has signed onto a letter urging Congress to pass H.R. 2. MSNJ urges all physicians, families and friends to use AMA's web site FixMedicareNow.org to send e-mail and social media messages to Congress. Or, call the toll-free grassroots hotline: 1-800-833-6354.
Read about the negative impact of a fee reduction in New Jersey. Read AMA's summary of H.R. 2. Read a summary prepared by the Staff of the House Energy & Commerce and Ways & Means Committees.
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SAVE THE DATE!
MSNJ's 2015 Advocacy Conference and House of Delegates Meeting
Friday, May 1, 2015
7:30am to 6:00pm
Crowne Plaza Princeton
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Medical Society of New Jersey
2 Princess Road, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648
(o) 609-896-1766 e-mail:
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About the Medical Society of New Jersey:
Founded in 1766, the Medical Society of New Jersey (MSNJ) is the oldest professional society in the United States. MSNJ promotes the betterment of the public health and the science and the art of medicine, to enlighten public opinion in regard to the problems of medicine, and to safeguard the rights of the practitioners of medicine. The organization and its members are dedicated to a healthy New Jersey, working to ensure the sanctity of the physician-patient relationship. In representing all medical disciplines, MSNJ advocates for the rights of patients and physicians alike, for the delivery of the highest quality medical care. For more information visit our website or send us an e-mail.
"Your Partner in Practice... Your Voice in Trenton"
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2015 © Medical Society of New Jersey. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the written permission of the Medical Society of New Jersey.
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