Contents tagged with congress
-
Physician practices on the brink: A warning for Congress
By Tom Banning
There is no question that the COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented financial pain throughout our health care system. Primary care physicians have seen a drop in patient visits of more than 50%, specialty physicians have seen patient volume evaporate, and hospitals are burning through cash as patients avoid going to the emergency room and non-urgent surgeries and other elective procedures that make up the bulk of hospital revenue have been canceled.
In a Stateline article this week, The Pew Charitable Trusts warns of the “possibility that the non-hospital health system will be decimated, and many of the surviving providers will be ill-prepared to deal with the pent-up demand that emerges from this crisis.” They predict a near future rife with acquisitions and mergers for independent physicians unable to survive months with no revenue.
more -
Congress works to repeal SGR as 24 percent Medicare rate cut looms
Congress works to repeal SGR as 24 percent Medicare rate cut looms
AAFP submits comments, recommendations on bipartisan, bicameral proposal
posted 11.21.13
Congress might be closer than ever to … more
-
2 percent Medicare cut went into effect April 1: Novitas answers your questions
2 percent Medicare cut went into effect April 1: Novitas answers your questions
posted 04.03.13
Because Congress failed to reach a budget deal to block the Budget Control Act’s sequestration cuts, … more
-
Congress averts fiscal cliff, staves off Medicare physician pay cut
Once again waiting until the last minute, Congress passed a bill on New Year’s Day that averts the fiscal cliff, delays sequestration provisions for two months, and staves off the 26.5 percent cut in Medicare physician pay for another year.
The fiscal cliff agreement increases revenue largely by targeting married couples earning more than $450,000 a year and single people earning more than $400,000 a year by raising rates for wages and investment profits, but shields those earning less than $250,000 a year from income tax increases, the Washington Post reports.
As TAFP reported in the weeks leading up to this agreement, Congress had to find roughly $30 billion to pay for a one-year patch to the sustainable growth rate formula and considered reversing the Medicaid primary care bonus to offset the cost. Modern Healthcare reports (free registration required) that cuts will come from other Medicare programs, most of which affect hospitals, pharmacies, and dialysis clinics. The primary care bonus appears to be intact.
more -
TAFP members represent Texas at national advocacy conference
TAFP members represent Texas at national advocacy conference
posted 05.31.12
Nearly 200 family physicians, residents, medical students, and state chapter officials from around the country … more
-
Congress passes another one-month SGR reprieve
Congress passes another one-month SGR reprieve
posted 12.01.10
It’s official: Congress has approved a one-month extension of Medicare physician payment rates, once again postponing a double-digit … more
-
Congress approves Medicare payment patch through May 31
Congress approves Medicare payment patch through May 31
posted 04.15.10
Congress has passed and President Barack Obama has signed a Medicare physician payment bill that extends the 2009 payment … more
-
21.2 percent Medicare physician fee cut to go through April 1
21.2 percent Medicare physician fee cut to go through April 1
posted 03.29.10
The U.S. Senate has again failed to avert a 21.2 percent reduction in physician payments in the Medicare program, … more
-
STATEMENT OF THE PRESIDENT: Congress passes health system reform
STATEMENT OF THE PRESIDENT
Congress passes health system reform
Legislation is the first step in what will be a long journey to a sustainable health delivery system
posted 03.23.10
Dear … more
-
Congress to delay Medicare pay cut until April 30
Congress to delay Medicare pay cut until April 30
posted 03.18.10
For the third time in the last four months, congressional lawmakers have postponed a scheduled 21.2 percent cut in physician … more