The office of U. S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has been quoted by an industry source as saying that legislation currently in the Senate that would further delay the 21.3 % Medicare physician fee schedule cut will not be considered prior to the next dealine for the cut to take effect.

The pay reduction was originally scheduled to be implemented on June 1st. CMS is currently holding claims for the first 10 working days of June, which is delaying the cut until this coming Monday, June 14th. Senator Reid’s office has stated that no votes are scheduled on the pending legislation either tomorrow or Monday, as senators will be visiting their home states during this time.

The earliest a vote could be cast on the legislation would be Tuesday, June 15th. In the recent past, when faced with a similar deadline, Congress requested that CMS not release claims for payment until the legislation could be considered and sent to the president for his signature. Given this history, I am of the opinion that this legislation will be reviewed and passed upon the Senate reconvening on Tuesday the 15th. The only way to be certain of this outcome is to stay tuned.

The legislation currently on the table provides for a 2.2% payment increase for the remainder of 2010, followed by a 1% increase in 2011. The current oft-delayed pay cut would be restored in 2012, more than likely at a deeper percentage rate, unless a permanent fix to the Sustainable Growth Rate is implemented prior to 2012.

3:41 pm, June 10th, 2010 |