The Medical Association of Georgia (MAG) is urging physicians to contact their congressional leaders today to urge them to repeal the Medicare Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula. Congressional leaders have not yet addressed the 21.2 percent Medicare/SGR cut that's scheduled to go into effect next Monday, March 1.

 

CALL TO ACTION: Please take a few moments to contact your congressional leaders by clicking the blue "Take Action" link at the top of this page and urge them to repeal the SGR.

 

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is reportedly telling contractors to hold Medicare physician claims for 10 business days, effective next Monday, March 1.  MAG is pressing the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for specific direction - but CMS has not yet provided MAG with any guidance for physicians about filing post-March 1 claims until the issue is addressed by Congressional leaders.   

 

The U.S. House of Representatives passed an "extension bill" last night that would have extended the current Medicare payment rates for one month. The U.S. Senate considered the bill earlier today, but Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY) objected because the $10 billion bill was unfunded.  The Senate is expected to revisit the bill when it returns to session next Tuesday, March 2. The measure needs 60 votes to pass. If the bill passes, it would cover claims on a retroactive basis (i.e., those submitted after March 1).

 

MAG has been in close contact with members of Georgia's congressional delegation - and MAG will continue to monitor developments.

 

Physicians have until March 17 to change their Medicare "participating" or "nonparticipating" status for the year. Go to www.ama-assn.org/ama1/pub/upload/mm/399/med-par-options.pdf for a summary of important considerations. It's not yet clear if that deadline will be extended.

 

Cahaba GBA/Georgia told MAG that it hasn't received any further direction on the Medicare physician fee schedule from CMS. In the event a cut goes into effect, Cahaba says it would be based on the date of service on the claim - not the submission date.

 

MAG will send alerts and post updates on www.mag.org as applicable and as information becomes available.