Advanced Search

Orthopedic Coding Alert

News You Can Use:

Your 2011 Medicare Pay Is Safe -- For Now

Published on Thu Mar 24, 2011

Orthopedic practices can join other Part B providers in feeling relief over Congress' December decision to freeze Medicare payments at 2010 levels throughout 2011. Because of that vote, you haven't had to deal with the potentially devastating 25 percent cuts that you would have faced on Jan. 1 -- but the cuts are still poised to take effect in 2012 -- unless President Obama's new budget proposal clears administrative hurdles.On Feb. 14, the White House Office of Management and Budget unveiled its new budget proposal, which would delay Medicare cuts for another two years -- through Dec. 31, 2013. The pay cuts would still kick in as of 2014, but physician advocacy groups hope that a permanent solution to the Medicare payment issues will be established by then."In December, there was a bipartisan agreement to pay for a one-year extension of the so-called 'doc fix' -- which was not required by budget rules but [...]
You’ve reached your limit of free articles. Already a subscriber? Log in.
Not a subscriber? Subscribe today to continue reading this article. Plus, you’ll get:
  • Simple explanations of current healthcare regulations and payer programs
  • Real-world reporting scenarios solved by our expert coders
  • Industry news, such as MAC and RAC activities, the OIG Work Plan, and CERT reports
  • Instant access to every article ever published in your eNewsletter
  • 6 annual AAPC-approved CEUs*
  • The latest updates for CPT®, ICD-10-CM, HCPCS Level II, NCCI edits, modifiers, compliance, technology, practice management, and more
*CEUs available with select eNewsletters.

Other Articles in this issue of

Orthopedic Coding Alert

View All