News

MedPAC to Congress: Replace SGR Now


 

FROM A MEETING OF THE MEDICARE PAYMENT ADVISORY COMMISSION

WASHINGTON – The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission voiced its disappointment with Congress’ failure to find a permanent fix for Medicare’s sustainable growth rate formula (SGR) at its Jan. 12 meeting.

MedPAC Chairman Glenn Hackbarth said the opportunity to pay for an SGR solution is fading. "Repeal of SGR will only get more expensive." He added that the likelihood that Congress would forgive any debt incurred by the SGR also is fading, as are the Medicare savings that could fund the repeal.

"To say that we can’t repeal SGR without it being offset and then take Medicare savings for other purposes leaves this destabilizing element at the heart of the Medicare program," Mr. Hackbarth said.

At its October meeting, the commission voted to submit its recommendations to Congress for using Medicare savings to fund an SGR replacement. Key among the recommendations are:

• Repealing the SGR.

• Freezing payments to primary care physicians for 10 years.

• Cutting reimbursements to specialist physicians by 17% over 3 years, followed by a 7-year freeze.

Dr. Ron Castellanos, MedPAC commissioner and a Florida urologist, called on MedPAC to increase their pressure on Congress to find a permanent solution.

"I don’t know how to say more passionately that there needs to be a message from MedPAC that this is just totally unacceptable," Dr. Castellanos said. He added that if the 27.4% pay cut goes through, it could force Congress to come up with a permanent fix.

"I don’t like the idea of letting the cut go through but certainly if that happens I think we could get an answer," Mr. Castellanos said.

The commission’s next meeting is March 8.

Recommended Reading

e-Prescribing Survey Pinpoints Connectivity, Processing Issues
MDedge Internal Medicine
Cancer Death Rates Continue to Drop
MDedge Internal Medicine
Progress Report Positive Under California Antimicrobial Use Law
MDedge Internal Medicine
Federal Rules Aim to Standardize Electronic Payments
MDedge Internal Medicine
Florida Steers Toward Antimicrobial Stewardship
MDedge Internal Medicine
Health Spending Continues Historic Decline in 2010
MDedge Internal Medicine
Multidrug Resistance Rates Reveal Good and Bad News
MDedge Internal Medicine
Survey: U.S., Older Docs More Skeptical of Health IT
MDedge Internal Medicine
Vermont Named America's Healthiest State
MDedge Internal Medicine
Inpatient Costs Rise Slower for Elderly Patients
MDedge Internal Medicine