Congress Eliminates Medicare Pay Cut to Doctors

Despite the predictions that it wasn't going to happen, House and Senate negotiators reached a compromise that rescinded the scheduled 5% Medicare rate cut for physicians in 2007 and established a 1.5% incentive increase - beginning July 2007 - for doctors who report on quality measures. The measure also creates a fund to stabilize physician payments in 2008. On average, ED physicians will receive a 7% increase for 2007. The House passed the measure on December 8 with the Senate following suit on December 9. The bill now goes to the White House, where President Bush is expected to sign it.