Congress Reaches Bipartisan Deal to Blunt Medicare Cuts

Congress has passed legislation introduced by Democrats to delay the majority of pending Medicare payment cuts. If allowed, the cuts would broadly impact healthcare providers. The Senate is expected to vote on this matter later in the week. Passage by the Senate is required for the bill to become law. 

Bill highlights: 

• Delays 4% PAYGO cut for one year (until 2023). 
• Restructures 2% sequestration cut. Instead of a 2% cut in January, the bill phases in a 1% cut in April, increasing to 2% in July. 
• Delays Medicare payment reductions to the clinical laboratory fee schedule for one year (until 2023).
• Delays implementation of the Medicare radiation oncology model for one year (until 2023). 

Source: https://www.hfma.org/topics/news/2021/12/a-bill-to-mitigate-scheduled-medicare-payment-cuts-of--14-billio.html