Senate Finance Committee Takes a Step to Prevent Cuts to Physician Reimbursement

On Tuesday,October 25, 2005, the Senate Finance Committee voted to approve a budget reconciliation package that includes a positive update of one percent to the 2006 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule.

This is one more step in an on-going process that will have a direct impact on Medicare reimbursement for physicians in 2006. ASH continues its advocacy campaign to prevent the scheduled 4.4% cut in physician reimbursement. Congressional members still have decisions to make and votes to cast – please urge them to support a positive update to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule by simply clicking Advocacy Campaign and sending your message.

The reconciliation package would reduce Medicaid and Medicare spending by $10 billion over five years. An estimated $4.3 billion in net savings would come from Medicaid, with the remaining $5.7 billion coming from Medicare. A summary of the reconciliation package and ASH’s comments to CMS on the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule are available online.