Medical Staff

Congress stops 2007 physician fee cut

Hospitalist Leadership Connection, December 13, 2006

On December 8, Congress approved legislation that eliminated a proposed 5% cut in Medicare payments to physicians, according to a December 11 news alert from the Society of Hospital Medicine (SHM). The cut would have taken effect January 1.

The legislation freezes at their 2006 levels the fees physicians can receive for caring for Medicare patients, and also provides a 1.5% bonus to physicians who report quality measures in 2007, SHM states.

SHM had been closely monitoring the issue, encouraging its members to write to Congress in support of stopping the fee cuts. In the news alert, Laura Allendorf, senior advisor for advocacy and government affairs at SHM, thanked members who contacted their state representatives.

To access the SHM's Legislative Action Center, click here.

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