Budget Deal Might Influence SGR Movement

The deal announced by budget negotiators late Tuesday (Dec. 10) could influence movement on Medicare physician-pay reforms because it could boost trust between the parties as they pursue a three-month SGR patch to give them time to work out SGR offsets, a physician lobbyist said. Conversely, surgeons on the same day gave lawmakers a bit of a surprise by opposing bipartisan, bicameral SGR repeal legislation negotiated by the Senate Finance and House Ways & Means committees in favor of an...