Doc Associations Rip Medicare Pay Deal

Physician associations denounced Congress for failing to find a permanent solution to Medicare's sustainable growth-rate formula after lawmakers reached a tentative agreement that would force them to revisit the issue at the end of the year.

“We are deeply disappointed that Congress has missed a unique opportunity to repeal the SGR once and for all and instead has chosen political expediency over patients,” Dr. Susan Turney, president and CEO of MGMA-ACMPE, formerly the Medical Group Management Association, said in a statement.

“Physician practices now face a mounting 35% payment threat from Medicare in 2013 and Congress has dug itself a $400 billion hole,” Turney's statement continued. “Group practices are telling us that this congressional decision exacerbates an already unhealthy environment that limits their ability to plan for the future and balance their practice's fiscal health with their desire to continue to serve Medicare beneficiaries.”

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Source: Modern Healthcare

The deal would avert a 27.4% Medicare payment cut to physicians after Feb. 29 and extend current payment rates through the end of 2012, according to a GOP aide.