Congress Passes One Year SGR Fix. President Obama Promises to Sign

The House of Representatives passed legislation this morning that prevents a 24.9 percent Medicare payment cut to providers that was scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2011 under the SGR formula.  The measure unanimously passed the Senate yesterday.  There was bipartisan support for the bill.

The extension will allow Congress and the White House to revisit the SGR formula responsible for the budgeted cuts.  With the first of the Baby Boomers reaching Medicare age during 2011, the way physicians are paid must be addressed or even more substantial cuts than those forecast are inevitable.

Per the AMA, "The joint efforts of AARP, the military community, AMA and other physician groups helped make this one year delay a reality for patients and their physicians.”

The President supports the bill and it should be signed into law shortly.