You probably expected Congress to procrastinate in passing a legislative fix to the sustainable growth rate (SGR) cut to your Medicare payments. But a meaningful solution to the scheduled 21.29% cut to reimbursements would have been nice by now.
Part B News reports in its latest newsletter that medical societies are supporting a temporary fix of about 30 days so lawmakers can work on a fix after New Year's Day, when debate on health care reform will have hopefully reached a conclusion.
The Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) says a "temporary physician payment 'bridge' mechanism [allows] Congress to work on a permanent solution to the [SGR] formula. Whether this short-term mechanism freezes Medicare payment rates at the current level or provides a modest increase has yet to be determined." A permanent solution would be an end to the SGR, for good.
The MGMA mentions the bridge could be tacked on to the 2010 Department of Defense Appropriations bill, which is currently in the House of Representatives.