Legislators considering permanent 'doc fix'

Republicans on the U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee and Ways and Means Committee released a proposal to repeal Medicare's sustainable growth rate (SGR), which Medicare uses to calculate physician payment rates. The goal of the SGR, which was put into place as part of a 1997 budget balancing effort, is to control growth in Medicare's annual spending for physicians' services. Congress has repeatedly acted to prevent any cuts to physician payments resulting from the SGR through one year "doc fixes."

The Republicans are seeking to repeal the SGR and to establish a period of "predictable, statutorily-defined payment rates" so physicians can prepare for and participate in payment reform. According to the proposal, legislators must then reform Medicare's fee for service payment system to better reflect quality and efficiency of care. ...