Most physicians would be happy if they never had to read, hear about, or discuss Medicare’s Sustainable Growth Rate, or “SGR” ever again. Alas, it looks like years of attempts to get rid of that formula, which dictates physician fees for Medicare, have come to naught yet again.
Courtesy of Ohio AFL-CIO Labor '08 Flickr Creative Commons stream
Congressional negotiators agreed last week to give physicians a reprieve from the 21% cut due to take effect on June 1, but instead of a replacement for the SGR, they simply said they’d punt on the issue for the next 3 years or so.
Physician groups and even the White House expressed exasperation, yet again, and it was all captured on this week’s installment of the Policy & Practice podcast.
Also included in our 3-minute rundown: a first look at the accountable care organization, or ACO.
Take a listen and let us know what you think:
—Alicia Ault (on Twitter @aliciaault)
