Special SDCMS "New You Can Use" <> Flash Update on SGR/GPCI (2010.06.18)
Special SDCMS "New You Can Use" <> Flash Update on SGR/GPCI
— June 18, 2010
SGR & GPCI UPDATE
- This afternoon (Friday, June 18, 2010), the Senate passed an amended version of HR 3962 — now called the “Preservation of Access to Care for Medicare Beneficiaries and Pension Relief Act of 2010” — by unanimous consent.
- This legislation ONLY provides a 2.2% Medicare physician payment update for six months, from June 1, 2010, through November 30, 2010, in lieu of the scheduled 21% cut. The GPCI fix is NOT part of this legislation.
Executive Director Comment: The GPCI fix remains in legislation still before the Senate, which will be taken up again next week or later.
- Unfortunately, the House of Representatives is not scheduled to hold any floor votes until next Tuesday evening (June 22, 2010).
- As a result, CMS is instructing its carriers today (Friday, June 18, 2010) to lift the hold on processing claims for services provided on or after June 1, 2010, and to begin processing them under the law’s negative update requirement, i.e., claims will start to be paid today at the 21% lower rate.
Executive Director Comment: We are not sure of the precise methodology with which CMS will pay claims (last in/first out, first in/first out, etc.). We will notify you as soon as we know the answer.
- Once HR 3962 is passed by the House and signed by the president (expect this to happen no earlier than Wednesday morning, June 23, 2010), CMS will retroactively adjust any June claims that have been paid.
Executive Director Comment: A detailed "News You Can Use" will be sent early next week giving amplifying information.