SGR Talks Formally Begin

Tags: Medicare pay | Mike Crapo | physician payment | SGR | Sustainable Growth Rate

Congressional conferees began formal talks on how to avert the looming 27.4 percent Medicare pay reductions to physicians due to the sustainable growth rate, according to an Inside Health Policy report.

Both Democrats and Republicans met informally and in private earlier this month. It has been debated whether an agreement will feature a one-year patch or a two-year patch, although several groups have insisted the SGR be repealed altogether. A two-year fix would cost roughly $39 billion, with a one-year fix costing roughly half that.

Several medical groups and societies have advocated a full repeal of the SGR, which would currently cost more than $290 billion. The organizations said a repeal of the SGR should be funded from the withdrawal of troops from Iraq and Afghanistan, or the Overseas Contingency Operations, as well as medical malpractice reform.

Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) told Inside Health Policy that he and perhaps other members of the GOP are open to fixing the SGR through the war savings, although the idea is not fully supported from all members of Congress.

Related Articles on the Sustainable Growth Rate:

AHA, AAMC Urge Hospitals to Oppose Cuts in SGR Fix

Rep. Nancy Pelosi: House Democrats May Push for One-Year "Doc Fix"

9 Biggest Issues Surrounding the Medicare Sustainable Growth Rate

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