In a move that has even the most experienced political pundits scratching their heads, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) removed Medicare provisions from the bipartisan negotiated jobs bill that was released last week.
- Access to doctors may be limited
- Rehab therapy in danger
The jobs bill originally had provisions that would have stopped the harmful reductions that will likely cause doctors to stop seeing patients who use Medicare. In 1997 in an attempt to balance the federal budget Congress enacted cuts in Medicare for physician reimbursement. Every year since then, Congress has delayed the implementation of the cuts because physicians and doctor groups have said that they will no longer be able to afford to see Medicare patients. Unless something is done soon, starting March 1, 2010 doctors will see a 20 percent reduction in Medicare reimbursement.
Also in 1997, in order to save money, Congress voted to limit the number of physical, speech, and occupational therapies that Medicare consumers could receive. However, realizing that the move was unpopular politically, could harm people and cost more money in the long run, Congress has voted each year to stop the therapy caps from taking effect. The therapy cap extension was in the health reform bill that was scheduled to pass before the end of 2009 but didn’t. Since the therapy caps were not stopped for 2010, seniors and people with disabilities are already meeting the therapy limits and it’s only the second month of the year.
As Congress has fixed the Medicare reimbursement and therapy cap problems in the past, there may well be another plan bill to fix them again. At this time, there is no notice of a proposed bill available to the public. We have contacted Senator Reid’s office and are waiting for a response. In the meantime Senator Reid needs to hear from people who use Medicare. He needs to know how people will be impacted if their doctor stops seeing them or outpatient therapies are no longer available. You can reach his office at 202-224-2158.
Another case where decreasing less expensive early treatment and preventative care will once again lead to more frequent, more serious, and longer hospitalizations.