Society Advocacy on Behalf of its Members
The Heart Rhythm Society advocates on an ongoing basis for legislative action to prevent a 40 percent decrease in physician reimbursement over the next nine years [see below for updates]. Along with other medical societies, the Society is advocating for the replacement of the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) with a system of positive payment updates based on increases in practice costs. Background on the history of SGR Sustainable Growth Rate.
2008
Congress Overrides Presidential Medicare Veto (07/16/2008) — On July 15 Congress overwhelmingly overrode President Bush's veto of HR 6331, the Medicare Improvement for Patients and Providers Act. The bill reverses the 10.6 percent Medicare physician payment cut that went into effect July 1 and will extend the .5 percent update to physician payments through the end of 2008 and provide a 1.1 percent update for 2009. A number of other provisions such as an extension of PQRI and bonuses for e-prescribing are also included. Learn more »
Senate Passes Legislation Reversing Medicare Physician Payment Cut (07/09/2008) — On July 9 the Senate passed HR 6331, "The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008," which will continue the .5 percent update for the remainder of 2008 and provide a 1.1 percent update for 2009. . The President may decide to not veto the bill, despite previous threats, because of the overwhelming support of both chambers. The Society will keep you updated on these developments as well as the impact on the processing of claims on services rendered on or after July 1, 2008. Learn more »
Congress Fails to Pass Legislation Stopping 10.6% Medicare Physician Payment Cut Going Into Effect July 1 (06/27/2008) — Unfortunately before recessing for the 4th of July, Congress failed to pass legislation which would have halted the 10.6% Medicare Physician payment cut. Therefore, the cut will go forward as scheduled and will affect services rendered on or after July 1, 2008. The 1.0 floor on the geographic practice cost indexes (GPCI) also expires, meaning an additional 1%-3% cut for physicians in areas impacted by the GPCI. Learn more »
House Passes Medicare Bill; Democratic Leadership in Senate to Push for Vote on Package (06/25/2008) — On June 20, the Heart Rhythm Society and other medical societies were called into a meeting by the Office of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) to discuss the introduction of HR 6331 "The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008". The House passed the bill by an overwhelming vote of 355 to 59, and Senate Democratic leadership is planning for a vote to move the package forward on June 26, hoping for enough Republican support to avoid a filibuster threat. The President however continues to threaten to veto any legislation which cuts Medicare Advantage plans in order to fund other Medicare proposals. Learn more »
Update-Medicare Physician Payment Legislation (06/18/2008) — Senator Max Baucus (D-MT) introduced legislation June 6 to halt the 10.6% Physician Medicare Payment Cut; however, it failed to garner enough votes to move forward. On June 11, Finance Committee Ranking Member Charles Grassley (R-IA) introduced his version of a bill that contained similar provisions addressing physician issues. Democrats will have to negotiate a compromise with Republicans and also find off-sets that do not elicit Presidential veto threats, such as the proposed cuts to Medicare Advantage Plans. Learn more »
Legislation Introduced to Halt 10.6% Payment Cut (06/07/2008) — On Friday, June 6, Senator Max Baucus (D-MT), Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, introduced S. 3101, “The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008.” Among the provisions, the bill blocks the pending 10.6 percent Medicare physician payment cuts through December 31, 2009 and provides a 1.1 percent update for 2009. Learn more »
Lobbyists Meet with Committee Chairman on Physician Payments (04/11/2008) — The Heart Rhythm Society met with Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) as part of a closed meeting with medical society lobbyists on Friday, April 11, to discuss possible Medicare legislation. Learn more »
2008 Medicare Trustees Report Projects Cuts of 41% in Physician Payments by 2016 (03/26/2008) — The Boards of Trustees for Medicare report annually to the Congress on the financial operations and actuarial status of the program. The 2008 yearly report, which includes projections for future physician reimbursement rates, was issued on March 25, 2008. Learn more »
2007
Heart Rhythm Society Helps Stop 10.1% Medicare Physician Payment Cuts — Heart Rhythm Society members who took part in calls to “Take Action!” increased the pressure for Congress to stop unsustainable and unfair payment cuts. Learn more »
Heart Rhythm Society: President's 2008 Budget Compromises Advancements in Cardiovascular Treatment (02/08/2007) — The Heart Rhythm Society expresses mixed feelings about President Bush’s fiscal year 2008 budget request. Learn more »
2006
Congress Passes Legislation Averting 5% Medicare Physician Payment Cut (12/11/2006) — View the highlights of the bill which stop the 5% cut.
2005
The Preserving Patient Access To Physicians Act of 2005 — Senators Jon Kyl (R-AZ) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) introduced S.1081, the Preserving Patient Access to Physicians Act of 2005, which would replace projected Medicare payment cuts with positive updates in each of the next two years. The bill would provide an update of no less than 2.7% in 2006 and an update in 2007 that reflects physician practice cost inflation, which is expected to be about 2.6%. Learn more »
