In recent weeks, proposals have been unveiled on Capitol Hill that would eliminate Medicare’s sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula. Generally, these proposals reflect many of the principles that the American Medical Association, state medical societies, and national specialty societies shared with Congress this past October. The fact that the committees began this process so early in the year and CBO’s recently lowered estimated cost for repealing SGR by more than $100 billion (to $138 billion) also are very positive signs. Read more. (American Medical Association, Feb. 15, 2013)
TMA Calculates Impact of Medicare Fee Cut
Medicare payments to physicians will drop 2 percent on April 1 because of the federal budget sequester. TMA's Payment Advocacy Department analyzed the impact of the fee reduction and compiled a list of answers to questions you may have. (Action Special Issue: March 21, 2013)
Medicare Sequester Fee Cut Begins April 1
Medicare will cut physician payments for fee-for-service claims with dates of service on or after April 1 by 2 percent, thanks to the failure of Congress and President Obama to avoid across-the-board federal spending reductions required by the federal budget sequestration that took effect March. Read More (Action, 18, 3013)
TMA Urges Passage of IPAB Repeal Bill
Replacing the SGR will be meaningless, however, unless Congress also
repeals the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB). Leaving both in place would create cruel and unusual double jeopardy for physicians who want to care for senior citizens and military families. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) created the 15-member IPAB to recommend measures to reduce Medicare spending if costs exceed targeted growth rates set by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
(Feb. 27, 2013) Medicare Payments Frozen for Another Year
One day after the official deadline, the U.S. Congress yesterday stepped away from the so-called "fiscal cliff" and slapped another one-year patch on physicians' Medicare payments. (Action Special Issue, Jan. 2, 2013)
TMA Advocacy
- TMA's Medicare Meltdown Action Center
- Medicine: Use War Money for Medicare - Action (Feb. 1, 2012)
- Letters: Congress Must Stop Medicare Cuts (Action, Sept. 17, 2012
- Quit Playing Politics With Medicare Patient's Health (Dec. 16, 2011)
- Drastic Medicare Fee Cuts Coming - Action (Dec. 2, 2011)
- Medicare Meltdown - Texas Medicine (December 2011)
- CMS Reduces Planned Medicare Fee Cut - Action (Nov. 15, 2011)
- TMA Opposes Dual Eligible Cuts - Action (Nov. 15, 2011)
- TMA Testifies: Eliminating Medicaid Payments for Dual-Eligible Patients (Nov. 4, 2011)
- Medicare Meltdown Forces Physicians Out of Medicare - TMA News Release, Oct. 6, 2011
- Medicare Meltdown Forcing Physicians Out - Action (Oct. 17, 2011)
- HHSC to Cut Dual Eligible Payments - Action, (Sept. 16, 2011)
- NEW: Medicare Meltdownr Redux Fact Sheet
- CMS: Stop Us Before We Do Something Stupid - Action (July 19, 2011)
- Medicine Wins; CMS Drops Lab Signing Rule - Action (July 5, 2011)
- Deficit Cuts Must Include Medicare Reform - Action (July 5, 2011)
- Senate Finally Delays Medicare Cuts, Again - Action Special Edition (March 3, 2010)
- CMS to Shelve Physician Lab Signature Rule - Action (March 1, 2011)
- Medicare Cuts Physicians’ Fees 21 Percent - Action (March 1, 2010)
- TMA's Plan to Fight the Medicare Meltdown - Action (March 1, 2010)
- TMA and Texas AARP Join Forces (Nov. 17, 2010)
What You Need to Know
- A Tough Call: Leaving Medicare Tempting, Possibly Costly - Texas Medicine (July 2012)
- Evaluating Your Medicare Options
- Medicare Participation Deadline is Feb. 14 - Action (Jan. 3, 2012)
- Stay Clear of Medicare Fraud Charges - Action (March 1, 2011)
- Medicare Fee Schedule by Region
- CMS to Reprocess 2010 Medicare Claims - Action (Feb. 15, 2011)
- Medicare Advantage and EHR Incentives - Action (Jan. 14, 2011)
- Medicare to Get Tough on Physician Applications, Again - CMS (June, 11, 2010)
- CMS Revises Medicare Enrollment Application - Action (April 15, 2008)
- TrailBlazer Health Enterprises, LLC Medicare Part B Texas Contacts
Publications and Resources
Related Links