Source: Medical Group Management Association

Basically: you can try to collect $.80 on the Medicare dollar now, or you can wait to see how this bill bounces around —and in the meantime, you don’t get paid.

Senate sends amended payment freeze bill back to House

Earlier this afternoon, the Senate passed an amended version of H.R. 4851, the Continuing Extension Act of 2010 by a vote of 59 – 38. The bill freezes Medicare physician payments at the current level through May 31. Because the Senate failed to pass identical legislation addressing the extension of the Medicare physician payment freeze by last night, Medicare contractors may begin processing held claims today with the 21.3 percent cut in place. Since the Senate version of this extenders legislation is different than the version passed by the House on March 17, the House must also pass this bill before sending it to the president for his signature. The House Rules Committee has already approved a rule allowing for swift consideration of this amended version of H.R. 4851. The House is expected to act on this bill later this evening.

Spoiler alert: a small, one-time payment in “Medicare Bonuses” are not going to cover a 20% cut in reimbursement.

Hey! Do the math! I’ll pay you about $20,000 (in medicare bonuses) now…. and you agree to a 20+% cut in all claims forever! What a deal!