Tonight the Senate failed to approve an amended version of H.R. 4851 which would continue the current Medicare physician reimbursement payment freeze until June 1.
Based on the previously announced schedule by CMS, Medicare contractors will begin processing impacted claims on Thursday, April 15th to ensure timely claims payment but at the new reduced fee level. These claims will have to be retroactively corrected once the Senate finally addresses this issue. The Senate is expected to return to consideration of this amended version of H.R. 4851 tomorrow. However, since the version of the extension legislation the Senate is considering is not identical to the version passed by the House on March 17, the House must approve this Senate passed version before sending it to the president for his signature.
Earlier today, the House Rules Committee approved a rule allowing for swift consideration of this amended version of H.R. 4851. The House is expected to act on this legislation later this week.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) previously indicated that if legislation was not enacted by midnight April 14, Medicare contractors would begin processing the held April 1 claims. Once final legislation regarding the Medicare payment freeze is passed, we anticipate CMS issuing an official statement and details related to correcting these reduced levels of reimbursement.
Clearly this is frustrating news from Washington DC tonight -- especially since Senators believe this can be addressed this week. We all know this type of claims "rework" is costly and the gap in reimbursement is unacceptable so please call your Senator and urge action now.
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