Senate May Delaying 21.2% Physician Payment Cut

Senators are discussing delaying the pending 21.2 percent cut to Medicare physician payments for an additional 15 or 30 days. The extension of the current freeze would likely be included in an “extenders” bill, which would address COBRA, unemployment insurance, the Patriot Act, and highway funding provisions which are also scheduled to expire on Feb. 28. Consideration of this legislation may take place as early as today.