MEDICARE PAYMENTS AFTER DECEMBER 31st If we go into the New Year without legislation to stop the economy from going over the fiscal cliff—as appears almost certain—there will be no just-in-time SGR fix either.  The Medicare conversion factor applicable to services provided from January 1st onwards will be 26.5% lower, unless and until Congress corrects the problem.  Since the earliest that Medicare will pay claims will be January 14th, however, there is time for Congress to take the necessary action and prevent any remittances from going out at the lower rate, subject to later adjustment.   It is instructive to look at a six-year history of the dates on which Congress passed legislation each year avoiding the impact of the SGR (American Medical News, December 24, 2012): 2006-4.4%0.2%Feb. 8, 2006* 2007-5%0%Dec. 20, 2006 2008 (Jan.–June)-10.1%0.5%Dec. 29, 2007 2008 (July–Dec.)-10.6%0%July 15, 2008* 2009N/A1.1%N/A 2010 (Jan.–Feb.)-21.3%0%Dec. 19, 2009 2010 March-21.3%0%March 2, 2010* 2010...