House passes bill with Medicare SGR extension

17 December 2009

Yesterday, the House of Representatives passed a 2-month extension of expiring appropriations for the Department of Defense (DoD) that included a 2-month extension of the sustainable growth rate (SGR). The legislation would stop the 21.2% Medicare pay cut scheduled take effect on January 1 for a period that will end March 1, 2010. Importantly, the legislation does not affect any of the other payment policies included in the final 2010 fee schedule rule; those will take effect on schedule.

A cloture motion on the DoD extension bill was filed in the Senate yesterday. Votes on cloture and passage should be completed this weekend.