Bipartisan Plan Would Revamp Medicare Doctor Payments
A bipartisan group of House and Senate lawmakers has reached an agreement on a proposal that would revamp how Medicare reimburses physicians for certain services. The proposal -- which was developed by Sens. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Reps. Dave Camp (R-Mich.) and Sander Levin (D-Mich.) -- would reduce Medicare payments for physician services that have been overvalued. The savings -- an estimated $3 billion annually -- would be redistributed to undervalued physician services.
- "Key Congressional Leaders in Accord on Overhauling Medicare Doctor Pay" (Whoriskey, Washington Post, 11/27).