Congress Fails to Avert Physician Payment Cuts

Just before the holidays, Congress failed to to complete final action on the budget reconciliation conference agreement that would have averted the 4.4 percent cut in Medicare physician payments for 2006.  Because of the failure to act, the 4.4 percent cut took effect Jan. 1.  Both the House and Senate passed legislation to avert the cuts.  However, there were differences on other unrelated matters that prevented the bill from being signed into law.  The House is not scheduled to return until Jan. 231 and the Senate resumes its business Jan. 18.  If the House passes the budget reconciliation bill that passed the Senate, the cut will be stopped.  CMS, however, is obligated to implement the cut until current law is changed.  The AMC/NOMA urges its physician members to call their member of the House of Representatives through the AMA grassroots hotline at 800.833.6354 and urge them to support the budget bill, let them know the cuts in Medicare WILL hurt patients and must be stopped.