February 17, 2012
On Thursday, February 16, Congressional negotiators reached a final conference agreement on an extenders package that will provide a patch for the SGR and halt Medicare payment cuts through 2012. Among other extensions included in the agreement are Medicare therapy caps. The report indicates that the extenders package will be offset by cuts to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act’s (PPACA) prevention of chronic diseases program, Medicaid bad debt payments, and Medicaid spending for hospitals that treat a disproportionate share of low-income patients. In addition, the agreement states that HHS and the Government Accountability Office must submit reports to assist Congress in the development of a long-term replacement for the SGR formula, which physiatrists and other physicians have repeatedly called for.
To read a section-by-section summary of the agreement, 
click here. The Academy would like to thank members who participated in Calls-to-Action last year urging repeal of the SGR. Our staff will continue to strongly advocate for repeal of the SGR and the arbitrary therapy cap which could impact access to care for seniors and people with disabilities.