ALEXANDRIA, VA —The American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) applauds the U.S. Senate for its passage of H.R. 2. By permanently repealing the flawed Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula used to determine payments to physicians under the Medicare program, physicians, their practices, and their patients will—finally—have the stability they deserve.
“Today is an exciting day,” said James C. Denneny III, MD, Executive Vice President and CEO. “After 14 years and 17 short-term patches, the Senate embraced a bipartisan and bicameral solution to address a critical Medicare issue that has long-plagued physicians and their patients. The scope of this bill underscores what can be accomplished when lawmakers work in a bipartisan manner. We are extremely grateful to leaders in both the House and Senate, and we look forward to the President signing the bill.”
The Medicare physician payment provisions represent a hard-fought bipartisan policy agreement that will help build a more sustainable, fair, and efficient Medicare physician payment system that results in high quality, affordable healthcare.
Had the U.S. Senate failed to pass H.R. 2, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services was slated to begin processing payments for physician services in the Medicare program at a rate reduced by 21.2 percent.
About the AAO-HNS
The American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, one of the oldest medical associations in the nation, represents about 12,000 physicians and allied health professionals who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the ears, nose, throat, and related structures of the head and neck. The Academy serves its members by facilitating the advancement of the science and art of medicine related to otolaryngology and by representing the specialty in governmental and socioeconomic issues. The organization's vision: "Empowering otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeons to deliver the best patient care."
Source: https://www.entnet.org/content/aao-hns-applauds-senate-passage-sgr-repeal
