Congress Passes Another Short Term Extention of the 2009 Medicare Physician Payment Rate to Restore 21 Percent Cut

April 16, 2010 –
Last night President Obama signed the Continuing Extension Act of 2010 (H.R. 4851), into law, reinstating Medicare physician payments to where they were on March 31 and again postponing the 21.3 percent cut that was supposed to take effect in 2010. This most recent extension of 2009 payment rates will continue through the end of May, and will be applied retroactively to all physician services provided to Medicare patients in April. The legislation passed the Senate at about 5:45 pm by a bipartisan vote of 59-38, and subsequently passed the House of Representatives shortly after 8:00 pm by a bipartisan vote of 289-112.
The hold on processing April claims that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) had placed to avoid implementing the payment cut technically expired on April 15, but because Congressional action was so imminent, we do not believe many claims were actually processed at the lower payment rates. Any claims paid that reflected the 21.3 percent cut will be reprocessed automatically without any action required from physicians.
The Society thanks all members who took part in the recent Advocacy Campaign that successfully helped urge the Congress to restore physician payment rates.

Abraham Mittelman, MD
NYSSMOH, President

Petition to Stop Cancer Care Cuts

Members are encourage to place copies of a petition aimed at asking our representatives in government to stop the continued cuts to Medicare at your front desk and in each physician’s exam room. More information can also be obtained by going to http://nyssmoh.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c1baa62bcce8234f03f15b2e7&id=d6ff2b1ac2&e=38bb34b435

You can also complete the Petition on line at the following link:

http://nyssmoh.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c1baa62bcce8234f03f15b2e7&id=14e8c8f4b9&e=38bb34b435

Please join us in signing a petition to ask our elected officials to stop the cancer care cuts. We have the best cancer care in the world, but it is now endangered by the continual government slashing of cancer care payments. Health care reform needs to address the cancer care crisis.

Joined others in signing a petition that will be sent to policymakers. Please follow the link below to read the Stop Cancer Care Cuts Petition at http://nyssmoh.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c1baa62bcce8234f03f15b2e7&id=228fc9ebdd&e=38bb34b435 , and add your name to show your support for the future of cancer care in our country.

Thank You
Abraham Mittelman, MD
NYSSMOH, President

"The War on Specialists" -Wall Street Journal

In President Obama's Washington, medical specialists are slightly more popular than the H1N1 virus. Compared to bread-and-butter primary care doctors, specialists cost more to train and make more use of expensive procedures and technology—and therefore cost the government more money. Even so, the quiet war Democrats are waging on specialists is astonishing.
From Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus's health-care bill to changes the Administration is pushing in Medicare, Democrats are systematically attacking specific medical fields like cardiology and oncology. With almost no scrutiny, they're trying to engineer a "cheaper" system so that government can afford to buy health care for all—even if the price is fewer and less innovative ways of extending and improving lives.

FOR THE FULL ARTICLE LINK BELOW
http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB10001424052748704471504574443472658898710-lMyQjAxMDA5MDAwOTEwNDkyWj.html