Bulletin: June 21, 2010
CMS Begins Processing Held Claims at Lower Rate
Since Congress has been unable to pass legislation in time to avert the cut, providers paid under the physician fee schedule will see a reduction in payments for June 2010 claims that were held since June 1. The U.S. Senate passed legislation (H.R. 3962) on June 18 that provides a 2.2 percent increase for Medicare physician payments for six months, from June 1 through Nov. 30, replacing the 21 percent cut scheduled for 2010. Unfortunately, the U.S. House of Representatives is not scheduled to vote on the legislation until June 22. As a result, CMS is instructing its carriers to begin processing held claims for services provided on or after June 1 at the 21% reduced rate. Once H.R. 3962 is passed by the House and signed by President Obama, CMS will retroactively adjust any June claims that have been paid. At this point, CMS has not said whether payments will automatically be adjusted at the increased rate or if claims will need to be resubmitted.
See the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Update Quadax bulletin from June 15 for details on the held claims.