The American Workers, State and Business Relief Act is an amended version of Congress’ jobs bill, sponsored by Sen. Baucus and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.). The bill, expected to be voted on later this week, contains a wide variety of healthcare-related measures, listed here.
Seven-month delay of physician fee cut. The sustainable growth rate update formula, which automatically went into effect on March 1, implementing a 21.2 percent reduction in Medicare rates for physicians, would be postponed for seven months, through Sept. 30. However, physician groups like the AMA want the SGR update to be permanent changed.
Federal assistance for State Medicaid programs extended to mid-2011. Increased federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) to state Medicaid programs would be extended for six months, through June 30, 2011.
COBRA premium assistance for laid-off workers until year’s end. A 65 percent federal subsidy of COBRA premiums for laid-off workers, now extended just through March, would be extended through Dec. 31.
More physician incentives for electronic health records. This provision clarifies the health information technology provision in current law that allows non-hospital-based physicians and other health professionals who bill Medicare and Medicaid through a hospital to receive electronic health record incentives.
Extension of CMS’ gainsharing demonstration. An ongoing demonstration to evaluate arrangements between hospitals and physicians to improve quality and efficiency would be extended through Sept. 30, 2011 with a final report to Congress on Sept. 30, 2012.
Extended Section 508 Hospital Wage Index Program. Hospital reclassifications under section 508 of the Medicare Modernization Act would be extended through the end of FY2010.
Higher Medicare rates for ambulance services. Increased Medicare rates for ambulance services, including those in super rural areas, would be extended through the end of the year.
Extended exceptions process for Medicare therapy caps. Funding for exceptions to Medicare therapy caps, which expired at the end of 2009, would be extended to the end of 2010.
Medicare Rural Hospital Flex Grant Program. The authorization for the Rural Hospital Flexibility Grant program would be extended through FY2011.
Outpatient hold harmless for rural hospitals. An existing hospital outpatient hold harmless provision for small rural hospitals would be extended through Dec. 31 and sole community hospitals with more than 100 beds would be able to qualify.
Funding for outpatient care at critical access hospitals. A technical correction clarifies that critical access hospitals are eligible to receive 101 percent of reasonable costs for providing outpatient care regardless of eligible billing method the facility uses and for providing qualifying ambulance services.
Read Sen. Baucus’ release on American Workers, State and Business Relief Act (pdf).
