Congress Takes Action to Prevent Cuts to Physician Reimbursement

On December 21, the Senate narrowly passed budget legislation that includes a freeze for Medicare physician reimbursement at the 2005 level rather than the scheduled 4.4 percent cut beginning January 1, 2006. The budget legislation became highly controversial due to provisions unrelated to Medicare. Vice President Dick Cheney was required to return to Washington to cast the tie breaking vote. The legislation now must go back to the House, which passed a slightly different version of the legislation earlier in the week. It is widely expected that the House will pass the bill again, which includes the freeze on Medicare reimbursement. ASH is currently analyzing the impact of the freeze on hematologists and hematologist/oncologists and will post additional information in the near future.