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...
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