Legislative Update: Doc Fix

The threat of significant cuts to reimbursement rates for physicians seeing Medicare and TRICARE patients was delayed earlier this year from April 1, 2014 to April 1, 2015. Efforts to identify and enact a permanent solution have dragged on for several years, with Congress approving only temporary fixes due to cost. 

Veteran organizations strongly support a permanent solution (the “doc fix”) by establishing sufficient reimbursement rates to ensure beneficiaries have continued access to quality medical care. They support the “SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act” (H.R. 4015), sponsored by Rep. Michael Burgess (Texas), which will make the “Doc Fix” permanent by repealing the antiquated Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) and replacing it with a fair, stable, simplified system of physician payments for Medicare and TRICARE programs.  

This legislation passed the House earlier this year and is awaiting consideration in the Senate. Veterans are urged to ask their Senators to approve this important legislation.

 Source:  {FRA NewsBytes, 05 Sep 2014 as modified by this email’s author.}