Several Washington news outlets and health care lobbyists report Senate Finance Committee aides reached a tentative deal Monday night to prevent the massive Medicare payment cut scheduled for Jan. 1. A proposed one-year pay fix delaying a 30% cut to reimbursement rates could be brought to the Senate floor as early as this week.
Politico's Jennifer Haberkorn writes that the $19 billion pay patch would be offset with tax subsidies established by the Affordable Care Act. The money was set aside for Americans to purchase insurance plans after 2014. However, some Democrats might balk at the idea of using these funds as Democrats had fought to increase subsidies for Americans purchasing plans in new health insurance exchanges.
The proposal may also extend other Medicare payment provisions, such as the therapy cap exemptions, that are set to expire on Dec. 31.