Delay In The Implementation Of The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005

According to a December 30, 2005 CMS press release, The delay in the implementation of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 will delay the following changes among many others:

• As required under current law, claims for physicians’ services on or after January 1 will be paid with the -4.4 percent reduction from 2005 levels. The bill would have kept physician payment rates from being reduced, and would have provided significant offsetting savings to limit any impact on beneficiary costs
• The base composite rate paid to end-stage renal disease facilities will not increase from 2005. The bill would have implemented a 1.6 percent increase.
• Home health agencies will receive payments reflecting a 2.8 percent increase on January 1, rather than the zero percent increase as recommended by MedPAC and specified in the bill.

However , CMS expects congress to take up the bill again after congress reconvenes and is ready to “make all appropriate payment changes in the least burdensome manner possible.”