If Congress doesn't take action, the current SGR patch is set to expire at the end of March enacting a 24% pay cut. While ideas for "pay-fors" for the repeal seem to be scarce, provider groups agree on one thing - the time to repeal the SGR is now. Discussion of a nine month delay until after the elections surfaced, but Congressional leaders and provider groups rejected that proposal. The delay would have been the 17th temporary legislative patch delaying the cuts. Read more in Modern Healthcare.
As part of a discussion draft of pay-fors, the Senate Finance Committee looked at Critical Access Hospital (CAH) mileage and reimbursement. While these are ideas and not endorsed options, CAHs are vulnerable. It's important to continue to advocate. Engage your mayor, Chamber of Commerce, and county commissioners - make your letters to your electeds patient-focused. Critical Access Hospitals protect patient access, protect the rural economy and save taxpayer dollars.
