12/15/2021
Legislation Passes to Avert Most Medicare Cuts in 2022
Due in part to the advocacy efforts of OSMA and Ohio physicians, and with the leadership of the AMA and national specialty societies, congress passed legislation late last week to avert most of the scheduled Medicare physician cuts scheduled to start on January 1.
Legislation passed early in the week in the House and headed to the Senate needing a bi-partisan vote to pass. Both Senator Brown and Portman voted to move the legislation forward. We are thankful for all the calls and emails from Ohio physicians that helped make a difference and we thank both Senators for their votes.
The key elements of the legislation are as follows:
- A delay in resuming the 2% Medicare sequester for three months (January 1- March 31, 2022), followed by a reduction to 1% for three months (April 1-June 30, 2022).
- A one-year increase in the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule of 3% (0.75% less than the conversion factor boost provided for 2021).
- A one-year delay in the cuts to the clinical lab fee schedule.
- A one year delay in the Medicare radiation oncology demonstration.
Additionally, the bill will erase the 4% Medicare PAY-GO cut and prevent any additional PAY-GO cuts through 2022.