ACR continues push to mitigate Medicare payment cuts
Congress is working to finalize a year-end legislative package. Final details have not been released, but despite the challenges of a complex political climate, a provision to mitigate Medicare payment cuts due to E/M coding changes is likely included. The potential percentage reduction of the cuts is not yet known. The ACR remains engaged with congressional offices. We will have more information for members in the coming hours and days.
Surprise billing fix included in pandemic relief package
Lawmakers have included legislation seeking to address unexpected out-of-pocket medical bills in a year-end pandemic relief package reached Sunday. The bill would address surprise bills by using arbitration to determine what insurers must pay to health care providers, and it would prohibit arbiters from considering the lower payment rates paid by Medicaid and Medicare. The ACR had expressed concern over the inclusion of workers' compensation and government payment programs in arbiters' consideration in an earlier version of the billing legislation.
