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 Up to the minute information for your financial success.  

Special Issue: Politicians Playing Politics with Physician Pay : "A Fluid Situation" 

The Issue in Essence

The Good

Late on Tuesday, the House of Representatives passed a bill, H.R. 3630 that would "fix" the SGR problem for the next 2 years.  The bill replaces the 27.4% cut with a 1% increase January 1, 2012 and an additional 1% increase January 1, 2013.

The Bad

Instead of directly addressing the SGR payments problem as its own issue and passing legislation to create a permanent fix, Congress has opted to attach it to a bill containing several of the most controversial issues facing Congress, including mandates to build the Keystone Oil pipeline, extend the payroll tax cut, and reform unemployment insurance programs.  

The Ugly

The House has passed the bill (H.R. 3630), but the Senate is highly unlikely to follow suit because of the controversial amendments added to it. This effectively blocks passage of SGR reform before the upcoming January 1, 2012 deadline. 

What you can do about it right now . . .

Even if you've called or written your congressional representatives about the issue before, this time it's different.  Beyond playing "kick the can" and never really solving the SGR issue (which The PBN Minute has frequently reported on before), now it appears that Congress is using the issue as political leverage to push through unrelated (and highly controversial) legislation.   It's time to contact your representative again to let them know how you feel about Congress playing politics with physician pay. 

The details . . .

• To find out more, check out the HBMA Government Relations Committee report this summary is based on. 

• You can also read the full text of the act ("The Middle Class Tax Relief & Job Creation Act of 2011 – H.R. 3630") and related information  on the U.S. House of Representatives Rules Committee official website. 

• Information about how to contact your Congressional Representatives is posted at http://www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml .

For more specific information about how this legislation may affect your practice and what PBN can do to help, contact a PBN client liaison at .   
 

For more information and guidance on this and other issues that affect your bottom line, contact . . .

PBN Business Development, 800.288.4901,

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