CMS issued a press release on Wednesday this week announcing
increased coverage of preventive care services, but also included
the potential 24.9% payment cut between Nov 2010 and Jan 2011.
The release was titled, Medicare Improves Access to Preventive Services for 2011: New Physician Payment Policies Emphasize Role of Primary Care. It also includes critical information about the final rule that
also "announces a reduction to payment rates for physicians' services
in 2011 under the sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula. MPFS rates are
currently scheduled to be reduced under the SGR system on December 1,
2010, and then again on January 1, 2011 under current law. The total
reduction in MPFS rates between November and January under the SGR
system will be 24.9 percent. While Congress has provided temporary
relief from these reductions every year since 2003, a long-term solution
is critical."
For more information, visit this website. See also Fact Sheets on the final rule posted here.