Associations representing physicians and medical groups aren't happy with Congress at the moment. Groups have blasted Congress for allowing Medicare claims to be processed at the 21% reduced rate today. Here's a round-up of what's been said:

American College of Physicians (ACP)

"If Medicare begins paying physician claims with the 21% reduction starting on April 15, any short-term fix that might be legislated this weekend or later - even though retroactive - likely will create a cash-flow problem in the meantime with claims being paid at the lower rate," Joseph Stubbs, MD, ACP president said. "This will send an unfortunate message to Medicare beneficiaries."

"There's the additional wrinkle that doctors may have to go back and re-bill patients for higher co-insurance once the payments are restored retroactively," Dr. Stubbs concluded. "If Congress then applies some short-term fix - be it for six weeks or six months - the added cost of rebilling will just add to the chaos."

Read more on Medicare pay cut

I managed to catch up with the AMA's incoming president, Cecil B. Wilson, as the good doctor (he's a longtime internist) was waiting in an Atlanta airport for a flight to Chicago. He was very generous with his time and offered some rather candid commentary -- in my opinion -- on the state of the pay fix.

For instance, when I asked him about Democrats' political sensitivity to the $240 billion price tag for a pay fix, Dr. Wilson replied, "They're not alone in that, the Republicans have said they're not going to vote for anything that increases the deficit as well ... I think the Republicans have an agenda as well, which is to oppose whatever this administration is suggesting." This post contains a full transcript of our conversation.

You can expect the 21% cut to Medicare reimbursements will be a hot topic in the news this week. Congress has until April 14 to prevent claims from being processed at the reduced rate. Here's a round-up of recent Medicare-related news coverage in the press:

The Fresno Bee reports local physicians are worried the Medicare pay cut is going to go through.

The Wall Street Journal outlines basic Medicare changes in the new health care reform law.

The Hill reports White House Budget Director Peter Orszag thinks health care reform will realize more savings than what's projected in Congressional Budget Office studies.

Read more Medicare news

The Senate just voted to advance H.R. 4851 (the "Continuing Extension Act") to a final vote. This bill puts in a place a 30-day Medicare pay fix effective from April 1 to April 30. While you and your peers probably see the pay fix as this bill's biggest provision, the mainstream media will probably be calling this the short-term jobless benefits bill, because this legislation also extends jobless benefits until May 5.

NOTE: Technically the bill hasn't yet passed; this vote was to invoke cloture. But the cloture vote means actual passage is just a formality at this point.

The lack of support for health care reform tabulated in our Part B News poll isn't surprising. There are lots of reasons - some more relevant than others -- to dislike the bill as opposed to liking the bill. Most Americans not in the medical profession probably feel the same way. As I previously stated, I have my own reservations for our new health care reform law.

You can go through the law and question the legitimacy of any section - especially the Medicare provisions. Why mandate a Medicare claim be submitted within 12 months or it will be rejected as untimely? How did Congress decide on 12 months? Why not six months or 18 months? Why tweak the timely claims section of the Medicare manual at all?

Certainly, there are some provisions in the bill America likes. Removing "barriers" such as patient copays and deductibles to preventive care and paying for annual Medicare check-ups seems like a good idea. Most Medicare physicians providing primary care must support the new wellness exam. At least they should welcome a new reimbursement opportunity.

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