We recently reported that the Senate had passed a stand-alone measure to postpone the 21.3% Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) cut retroactive to June 1 and through November 30, 2010. House leadership declined to take up the bill until the Senate considers jobs provisions that previously passed the House with the SGR fix as part of the controversial tax extenders package. Included in this announcement is a specific call to action with a recommended message for your Congressman.
With the two chambers disagreeing on the path forward, though both promising to halt the cut, Congressional inaction is expected to further delay a resolution to this critical issue for patients and providers.
As previously reported, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) instructed Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) to begin processing claims at lower rates on June 18. We have since learned from the American Medical Association that affected payments are being processed on a rolling, first-in/first-out basis. Once retroactive legislation is signed into law, reduced payments will be automatically adjusted so that psychologists and other providers will not have to resubmit claims in order to recoup fees lost due to the SGR cut.
We will continue to keep up the pressure on Capitol Hill and keep you updated on further legislative and regulatory developments.
If you have not already, please call and urge your Representative to immediately halt the SGR cut.
Action:
Call and urge your Representative to immediately halt the SGR cut
Call the Capitol Hill Switchboard at (202) 225-3121 and ask for your Representative’s office. If you do not know who your Representative is, you can give the operator your ZIP code or find out using our Legislative Action Center at http://capwiz.com/apapractice/officials/congress/?lvl=C.
Message:
I am calling as a constituent and psychologist to urge you to immediately halt the 21.3% Medicare Sustainable Growth Rate cut retroactive to June 1 and work to permanently replace the flawed SGR formula as soon as possible. This cut will have severe consequences for patient access to quality mental health care and must be addressed immediately. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Jeff Cook, J.D.
Director of Field & State Operations
American Psychological Association Practice Organization
750 First Street, NE Washington, DC 20002
(202) 336-5875 (Office)
(202) 336-5797 (Fax)
jco…@apa.org (click to verify and reveal email)
Republished with permission: APAPO
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