BusinessWeek reports that the Medicare payment cut scheduled for April 1 has been put on hold for a couple of weeks:
Doctors slated to have their Medicare reimbursements cut 21 percent on April 1 got a reprieve from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which is delaying lowered payments until after Congress reconvenes.
The agency, which administers the U.S. health program for people 65 years and older and the disabled, has ordered that claims submitted on or after April 1 be held for an added 10 days before being paid, said spokesman Peter Ashkenaz. That's on top of the 14 days the Baltimore-based CMS usually holds claims.
The decision delays scheduled reductions in Medicare payments until after Congress reconvenes April 12. Lawmakers have put off those cuts every year, except one, since they were introduced as part of the Balanced Budget Act in 1997. The American Medical Association says the reductions will make doctors less willing to accept Medicare patients and is pushing lawmakers to increase payments.
For the whole article, click here: Doctors Get Reprieve From 21% Medicare Payment Cut; BusinessWeek - March 29, 2010
