For months now, Congress members have argued over what to do about the 10 percent cut to physician Medicare payments [1] planned by CMS. Now, the Senate has agreed upon the plan. Under its new proposal, physicians will get at least a six-month reprieve from the cuts, which opponents say would lead to physicians refusing new Medicare patients or even booting old ones. The Senate plan actually gives physicians who treat the elderly and disabled a 0.5 percent bump. The same bill also approved spending an additional $35 billion on SCHIP. While the measure offers a bit of relief for physicians, the AMA isn't pleased. The physician group had asked legislators to kill the 10 percent cut entirely.

To find out more about the conflict:
- read this Associated Press article [2]

Related Articles:
Physicians see expected 10 percent Medicare cut. Report [3]
Physician Medicare cut may be eliminated. Report [4]
Medicare plans physician service fee cuts. Report [5]
A different perspective on Medicare cuts. Report [6]
CMS to phase in cost-weighting payments over three years. Report [7]