Healthcare payments under the budget deal: mostly good news for physicians

• Main Author: Robbins RA
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Arizona Thoracic Society 2018-02-01
• Series: Southwest Journal of Pulmonary and Critical Care
• Subjects: budget deal; healthcare; physician; Medicare; CMS; fees; Children's Health Insurance Program; donut hole; therapy cap; IPAB
• Online Access: http://www.swjpcc.com/news/2018/2/13/healthcare-payments-under-the-budget-deal-mostly-good-news-f.html

No abstract available. Article truncated after 150 words. In the early morning hours last Friday (2/9/18) Congress passed and President Trump signed a massive budget agreement (1). The spending package will cost about $320 billion over 10 years, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Payments for healthcare substantially increase under the deal. Most praised the agreement. "Congress made the right choice this morning for patients and communities by voting to halt damaging cuts to hospitals that care for low-income working families and others who face financial challenges," said Dr. Bruce Siegel, CEO of America's Essential Hospitals, which represents the nation's safety-net facilities. Marc Goldwein of the Center for a Responsible Federal Budget called the healthcare provisions the one "beacon of light" in what otherwise is an exorbitantly costly budget bill. Goldwein praised its mix of structural reforms with "reasonable policy” and liked that the bill pays for the increased healthcare spending. The bill extends Medicare physician fee cuts ….