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- Senate Passes CAP-Supported Moratorium on Medicare Cuts
On March 25, the Senate passed CAP-supported legislation to prevent a 2% cut from hitting physician Medicare payments until the end of 2021. The 2% cut is set to take effect on April 1. The Senate legislation extends the Medicare sequester moratorium through the end of the year, but the bill does not include a House provision that would also stop additional sequester cuts created by the recently approved American Rescue Plan. The Senate legislation, which passed 90-2, will have to go back to the House for a vote once the lower chamber returns from recess in April.
In a March 15 letter, the CAP strongly supported bipartisan congressional action to stop the Medicare budget sequester cuts and provide critical relief for pathologists who have been on the front lines to fight the pandemic. Similar legislative measures have also been enacted during this health crisis. The bill passed by the House would extend a moratorium on the 2% Medicare sequestration cuts through the end of the declared public health emergency. It also fixes an issue with the recently passed American Rescue Plan Act of 2022 that is needed to prevent an additional 4% sequester cut that would be triggered in early 2022.
CAP Activates Grassroots Advocacy to Stop Cuts
The CAP is urging pathologists to write their elected officials and tell them to support the legislation. Using the CAP’s action center, it is easy for pathologists to contact members of Congress on this issue. Just login with your email and ZIP code to send messages to Congress in less than a minute.
The AMA, the CAP, and 127 medical and state organizations have also lobbied Congress to relieve the financial burdens of the COVID-19 pandemic on physicians during the current national emergency. In a February 12 letter to congressional leaders in the House and the Senate, the CAP joined the groups to support legislation that would suspend a 2% across-the-board cut.