December 17, 2009

 

House Defense appropriations bill includes short-term SGR fix

The U.S. House of Representatives has included a two-month temporary SGR fix in its FY 2010 Defense appropriations bill.  The House passed the measure, H.R. 3326, on Wednesday by a vote of 395-34.

Section 1011 of the bill would freeze Medicare payments from January 1 through February 28 maintaining 2009 levels.  Without the temporary fix, anesthesiologists and all physicians would face a 21 percent Medicare payment cut beginning Jan. 1, 2010.

In order for the temporary freeze to take effect, the U.S. Senate must pass the appropriations bill before it adjourns next week.  We will provide further updates as the debate progresses. 

ASA strongly supports a permanent fix to the unworkable SGR formula.  We will continue working closely with key members of the House and Senate to ensure that meaningful SGR reform is included in the overall health care reform debate.