Medicare Payment Cuts Loom for ASCs; Economists Warn Forestalling Could Have Dire Consequences

Congress and President Obama have returned to Washington to determine the outcome of several pressing issues: whether to extend the expiring tax cuts from the Bush administration, whether to stall a huge cut in physician payments under Medicare and how to enact $1.2 trillion in previously approved across-the-board spending cuts scheduled to start in January 2013, according to an ASCA report.

Most economists have said that failing to act on these issues could prompt another recession and additional job losses.

Medicare payments to providers are scheduled to face a 2 percent reduction in 2013 and beyond, meaning that the 0.6 percent update for ASCs in 2013 will become a 1.4 percent reduction unless sequestration is forestalled.

Learn more about the ASCA Government Affairs Update.

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