Ahhhh, government. Ain't it great?[quote]As lawmakers tussle over freezing a 21% cut to doctors' Medicare fees, physicians are stuck waiting for word as..."/>
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Congress keeps Medicare doctors waiting
Wednesday, June 9, 2010 10:12 AM
NIKI2
Gettin' old, but still a hippie at heart...
Quote:As lawmakers tussle over freezing a 21% cut to doctors' Medicare fees, physicians are stuck waiting for word as to how much they'll be paid -- and when. Officially, a massive cut to the rates that the government pays doctors to treat Medicare patients took effect June 1. But the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services said it would delay processing claims for 10 business days, in the hope that Congress will delay the cuts, making the move retroactive, as it has done for years. But Monday, June 14, marks the 10th business day of that claims delay -- and lawmakers are still locked in a stalemate while doctors go unpaid. The House of Representatives voted May 28 to delay the 21% pay cut for 19 months, but the Senate did not take action before its Memorial Day recess. The Senate discussed its version of the so-called "Doc Fix" on Tuesday, which would give doctors a small boost in rates for the next two years instead of just delaying the rate cut. But it's unclear whether a bill will pass. Meanwhile, doctors are left wondering how they'll care for their 43 million Medicare patients.
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