Blog by W. Stephen Love, President/CEO, DFW Hospital Council
While the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a bill repealing the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR), the Senate adjourned at 3:30 a.m. March 27 without taking action. Congress will return in 10 days on April 13 and providers are counting each day.

It will be an uncomfortable spring break as we hope the Senate will immediately pass legislation that repeals the SGR. Without it, physicians face a 21 percent decline in Medicare reimbursements, the result of many years of Congress delaying action on repealing the rate. This legislation will also provide an extension of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) which is crucial for our children’s health care.

The Senate must work expeditiously on H.R. 2 legislation that prevents this frightening reduction. Temporary patches have been slapped on for 17 years and now, finally, we have the opportunity to fix this flawed formula once and for all.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) must take steps to implement the provisions which expire March 31. Striving to lessen the impact to providers and beneficiaries, CMS will hold claims for a short period of time in anticipation the Senate will act soon. Generally, it takes 14 calendar days for the payment of electronic claims and 30 days for paper claims.

CMS will continue to provide updates during this uneasy holding period while awaiting the Senate’s action. Please urge your Senators to act swiftly on this important legislation which will impact us all.