Doctors can look forward to getting paid for coordinating care for patients just out of the hospital or nursing home, thanks to new codes in the 2013 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule.
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The final fee schedule rule – issued Nov. 1 – also pays certain physicians at the Medicare level for certain services provided under Medicaid. But, there’s a downside too – the final rule calls for a 26.5% cut to their Medicare payment on Jan. 1, unless Congress jumps in to delay or fix the Sustainable Growth Rate formula.
Meanwhile, Election Day will decide the future of health reform – either President Obama will be able to continue implementation of the Affordable Care Act or Governor Romney will have the opportunity to repeal the law on Day 1, as he has vowed.
While the economy remains a high priority for voters, health care is important too, according to a recent tracking poll from the Kaiser Family Foundation. The poll showed that more than 60% of likely voters would prefer Medicare keep its current form, rather than shifting a premium support model.
For that and more, listen to this week’s Policy & Practice Podcast.
--Frances Correa (@fmcreporting)