H.R. 6091 would amend title XVIII of the Security Act to preserve access to physicians' services under the Medicare Program.
Detailed Summary
Save Medicare Act of 2008 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act, as amended by the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007, to: (1) increase the Medicare physician payment update for 2009; and (2) extend the physician quality reporting system, the incentive payment program for physician scarcity areas, the floor on the work geographic adjustment to the physician fee schedule, and the accommodation for physicians ordered to active duty in the armed services.
Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the provisions of, and amendments made by, this Act should be deficit neutral over the five year period beginning on October 1, 2008; and (2) Congress should address the challenges facing the Medicare program in a fiscally responsible manner.
Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the Medicare program should provide payments to physicians and other health professionals that serve as positive incentives for participation in voluntary initiatives to improve health care quality; and (2) financing for such initiatives should be non-punitive and exempt from the Medicare physician fee schedule budget neutrality requirements.
Status of the Legislation
Latest Major Action: 5/23/2008: Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Points in Favor
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Points Against
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Visitor Comments
Dan
To automatically reduce payment rates because utilization is increasing makse no sense when the vast majority of the increase is related to the ageing population.
kay
It is vitally important for this act to pass. I currently work for a physician practice and physicians are having a tough time making it with the current reimbursment rates from Medicare. Unfortunately, most insurers utilize the medicare rates as the basis for payment also. The medicare payment rates need to be increased to reflect the cost of doing business in today's world. The current rates are just about what they were in 2001 - this clearly reflects the lack of concern by Congress of health care delivery in America. Too many physicians have had to close their practice because the cost of doing business is not reflected in the payments they receive.