When last we left the legislative world as it relates to the 21.3% cut in the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule on Friday the 18th, the passage of a 2.2% pay increase was sent to the House of Representatives as a stand-alone bill ticketed for what was hoped to be immediate passage. Unable to hold claims any further due to statutory limitations, CMS ordered contractors to begin processing claims with dates of service of June 1st, 2010 and after with the 21.3% cut applied. It was also recognized that the earliest the House would vote on the Senate bill was Tuesday (yesterday).

This past Saturday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) made it very clear that she was not inclined to pass the Senate bill unless it is part of a larger measure similar to what the House passed in late May. It appears from a cursory look at the House calendar for yesterday and today that Pelosi was not bluffing. Yesterday’s legislative session in the House was dedicated to such weighty issues as a recognition of National Caribbean-American Heritage Month and a discussion of a resolution supporting National Men’s Health Week. Today’s calendar continues the focus on just the sort of topics that should shoot straight up to the top of the legislative calendar when there is near-10% unemployment, two wars and the looming threat of Medicare patients not receiving medical treatment: a discussion of the Formaldehyde Standards for Composite Wood Products Act and the Congressional Award Program Reauthorization Act (who would want an award from these people?). Sixteen other bills and resolutions are on the House calendar for today, and the Senate pay fix bill is not one of them.

Here’s a tip for the House of Representatives: the best way to insure that National Men’s Health Week comes off as a success is to make sure that men, and indeed all people, of Medicare age do not have their relationship with their physician threatened by a 21.3% percent cut in the doctor’s reimbursement.

I’ll continue to monitor the ongoing and oh-so-important work of Congress as the payment apocalypse continues. For now, as the headline says, there is indeed no news on this front.

7:55 am, June 23rd, 2010 |