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05/04/2009

Congressional budget leaders scrapped a proposed, long-term Medicare payment fix from the federal budget plan (PBN 4/13/09), opting to freeze the physician pay rates at 2009 levels for 2010 and 2011. However, the budget agreed to on April 27 and approved by both houses April 29 does not necessarily reflect future policy, a House aide specializing in Medicare legislation tells Part B News. Congress will still need to pass a bill to avoid the devastating 21% cut set for Jan. 1, but money is set aside for a two-year fix.

05/04/2009

Sens. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) lead the reform effort (photo from http://baucus.senate.gov)Radical new bonus payment options are being considered as top lawmakers move closer to drafting the health reform bill, Part B News has learned. Sens. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) held a lengthy closed-door meeting on Capitol Hill April 29 to discuss the options, which were previewed in a 52-page "policy options" document.

 

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