Medicare Physician Cuts for 2012 on Hold for Now

Congress has put a hold on the proposed 2012 Medicare cuts that would reduce Medicare reimbursement as much as 27.4% to physicians. Congress approved a bill that would delay the proposed cuts from January 1, 2012 to March 1, 2012.

Congress is in a standoff over the legislation that would prevent a 27.4% cut to Medicare physician payment is 2012. "A two-month patch is not what will give families, employers, doctors and the American people the long-term stability our country needs," said Rep. Michael Burgess, MD (R, Texas). "America needs jobs and long-term solutions. I am committed to staying in Washington until the job is done, and I encourage the Senate to do the same."

A week earlier, the House had passed a one-year payroll tax extension package that includes a two-year Medicare physician payment patch. That bill would increase Medicare rates by 1% in 2012 and by another 1% in 2013. But Democrats in the Senate would not support the House bill, objecting to budgetary offsets that would charge higher premiums to more higher-income seniors and cut funding for programs created by the health system reform law.

But enacting a bill with anything less than a one-year extension of the items included in the package would be irresponsible, said House Speaker John Boehner (R, Ohio). "It's time to stop the nonsense." Thomas J. Bierster, Jr., CEO for MD Logic said “now more than ever it is critical for physicians to adopt technology designed to make their medical clinic super efficient to prepare for any reduction in Medicare reimbursement in 2012. The MD Logic World Wide EMR™ software delivers both speed and accuracy while decreasing overhead and increasing profitability.

“I would encourage the congress to reach out to physicians that actually practice medicine each day and create a panel by specialty to review the medical services provided by that specialty. These specialists know what it costs to practice and could recommend both fee increases and or decreases for the services provided. Physicians that implement the MD Logic World Wide EMR™ software benefit from being able to automate the patient workflow enabling the doctors to provide the best possible care while increasing profitability.”

To learn about how MD Logic can make your clinic more efficient please contact us at 800.273.7750