Web Exclusive: Medicare payment update - postponement of 21 percent pay cut for 30 days

Late last evening, March 2, the U.S. Senate voted 78-19 to pass H.R. 4691, the "Temporary Extension Act of 2010," which included provisions to extend 2009 Medicare physician payment rates through the end of the month. As a result, the 21 percent payment cut that took effect on March 1, 2010, has been postponed until April 1, 2010. Discussions are still underway in the House and Senate on the next steps that will be taken to address the Medicare payment crisis. Proposals are being circulated that would implement still another short-term patch to the sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula, including proposals that would postpone cuts for 90 days, seven months or through the end of 2010. ASTRO will continue to monitor these developments and provide updates as they occur.