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.

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Rachel Fields

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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