Cost is the major stumbling block in passing a permanent fix for the formula that determines physician reimbursement under Medicare. The Congressional Budget Office recently estimated that the price tag for replacing the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula would be more than $200 billion. But now physicians are making the case that the government can’t afford not to fix the problem.
Image via Flickr user yomanimus by Creative Commons License.
The American Medical Association is running a new print ad in Capitol Hill newspapers all this month urging Congress to enact a permanent repeal of the SGR before the price goes up. The ad notes that in 3 years, the cost will rise to $396 billion and to $513 billion in 5 years.
Physicians are looking for action from lawmakers before Congress recesses for Memorial Day weekend. The current formula calls for Medicare payments to physicians to be cut by 21% starting on June 1.
Do you think Congress will replace the SGR permanently or continue to pass short-term fixes that delay the payment cuts?
— Mary Ellen Schneider (on Twitter @MaryEllenNY)