The House of Representatives agreed to pass the Senate's one-month Medicare payment fix bill Monday afternoon. The bill will delay the 2010 23% cut to physician reimbursements until Jan. 1 once the president signs it into law.
Republicans and Democrats expressed support for a long-term fix before passing the temporary measure, with Rep. Wally Herger (R-Calif.) stating they'll be back in December to delay the cut again.
Physician associations agree, saying Congress must continue to fix the Medicare payment formula. "While this short-term delay helps ensure that physicians can continue to care for seniors for the next month; congressional action early in December to stop the cut for one year will inject stability into the Medicare program and ensure that Medicare delivers on its promise of health coverage for America's seniors," AMA President Cecil B. Wilson said in a statement. "It is crucial that Congress act well before the January 1 deadline so there are no disruptions in care for seniors."