Temporary "DocFix" is Approved through May 31st

Good news -- but its another short term fix.
Tonight, Congress has passed and President Obama has signed a Medicare physician payment bill that extends the 2009 physician payment rate until May 31, thus reinstating the payment rate that was in place on March 31. This will allow CMS to rescind a 21.2 percent reduction that went into effect on April 1 because of the sustainable growth rate, or SGR, formula.

CMS held payment of claims from April 1-15, awaiting passage of the payment legislation. The Senate, however, was unable to pass the Medicare payment bill before the 21.2 percent cut started to take effect.

CMS will instruct its contractors to retroactively reprocess any claims that were paid at the lower rate. Claims with dates of service prior to April 1, 2010, are not affected and will continue to be processed under normal procedures.

Good news for tonight but a longer term fix is needed!