In a letter sent to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, the American Medical Association, joined by more than 100 physician groups, called on CMS to pay overdue reimbursements to physicians using funds made available earlier this week, according to a news release from the AMA.
In the Medicare & Medicaid Extenders Act of 2010, Congress allocated $200 million for physicians to address overdue Medicare reimbursements they should have received in 2010.
"After weathering a year filled with uncertainties from continuous threats of cuts to Medicare payments, many physicians are not in a position to rely on IOUs from the government," said Cecil B. Wilson, MD, AMA president, in the news release. "This week Congress allocated $200 million to help CMS comply with the new health reform law by reimbursing physicians for payments they should have received this year under the Affordable Care Act. We urge CMS to provide physicians with prompt information about how these claims will be handled, and to make the reimbursement process as quick and simple as possible."
The physician groups signing the letter with the AMA represent all 50 states and the District of Columbia and 57 national medical specialty societies.
Read the letter send to Kathleen Sebelius about physician Medicare reimbursement (pdf).
Read more about physician reimbursement:
- Congress Passes One-Year Medicare Fee-Fix; President's Signature Expected
- Senate Approves One-Year Medicare Fee-Fix
- California Medical Association Launches Campaign Against Medicare Cuts