decisionhealth Newsletters, Part B News - 2011 Issue 12 (December)
Expect 2-year SGR patch with flat fees, then more cuts in 2013 thanks to deficit law
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Article Overview
This article explains the outlook for Medicare physician reimbursement amid congressional budget negotiations, the sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula, and the deficit-reduction law tied to the federal debt ceiling. It is relevant to physicians, practice managers, billing professionals, and policy watchers who need to understand upcoming payment pressures, likely short-term fixes, and the broad categories of programs that may be used to offset costs.
Why This Topic Matters
It summarizes policy developments that could affect Medicare revenue planning and reimbursement stability for physician practices and other providers. Readers can use it to monitor federal budget actions that may influence payment updates and across-the-board cuts.
Article Sections
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Medicare payments
Discusses the expected near-term outlook for Medicare physician payment updates and the political response to scheduled reductions. It also frames the role of advocacy groups and federal budget scoring in the broader policy debate.
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Your losses in 2013 are unclear
Covers the potential impact of automatic federal deficit-reduction cuts on Medicare payments in 2013. It notes uncertainty about how those reductions may be structured and how Congress could revise them.
What You Will Learn
- The policy context surrounding Medicare physician payment updates
- How the SGR issue is being discussed in federal budget negotiations
- Why deficit-reduction actions may affect Medicare reimbursement in later years
- Which broad payment areas are being considered as offsets in legislative planning
- How uncertainty in congressional action can affect provider reimbursement forecasting
Who Should Read This
- Physicians
- Medical practice administrators
- Medical billing and coding professionals
- Healthcare revenue cycle staff
- Healthcare policy analysts
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