The Senate passed a six-month Medicare payment fix just hours after CMS ordered carriers to begin processing claims with the scheduled 21.3% reimbursement cut. The pay fix bill needs to pass the House of Representatives, which is in recess until Tuesday June 22, before it can go to the president for his signature.
The temporary pay fix includes a 2.2% boost to Medicare reimbursements retroactive to June 1.
The House initially voted for a 19-month pay fix, but the legislation failed to gain enough support to pass procedural hurdles in the Senate. It remains to be seen how House leaders will react to the reduced Senate measure.
CMS sent a memo advising lawmakers that it has begun to pay June 1 claims with the 21.3% cut after delaying claims processing for 17 days. "We continue to monitor Congressional actions, and if Congress changes the negative update that is currently in effect, we are prepared to act expeditiously to make the appropriate changes to Medicare claims processing systems," the memo stated.