CMS urges Senate to pass SGR fix before cuts take effect

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) urged the Senate to permanently repeal the Sustainable Growth Rate formula before April 15 so that doctors won't face cuts in Medicare reimbursements, according to The Hill. The House passed the bill last week but the Senate declined to vote on the measure before it took a two-week recess. As a result,  the current patch to the controversial formula expired on March 31 and a 21 percent reimbursement cut was set to take effect on April 1; CMS can shield doctors from the cuts for 14 calendar days, but emphasized that "[a]ny delay in processing claims beyond April 15 would negatively impact providers' cash flow." The Senate will not have a chance to vote on the bill until at least April 13. Article