Senate acts to prevent Medicare cut

On Nov. 18, the Senate unanimously approved legislation that would avert the Medicare payment cut scheduled for Dec. 1. The House is expected to take up and pass identical legislation when it returns from Thanksgiving, on Nov. 29, that would prevent the cut from going into effect.

The legislation extends current payment rates for 30 days, allowing Congress additional time before the end of the year to prevent the payment cut from going into effect on Jan. 1. ACP will continue to press the "lame duck" Congress to pass legislation that would fix payments through the end of 2011. ACP will then advocate that the new 112th Congress, which takes office in January, enact a long-term solution to the sustainable growth rate (SGR).

For additional information, and to find out how to help let Congress know the importance of preventing these payment cuts, visit the ACP Legislative Action Center.