Theoptimisticconservative's Blog

Those of us who are covered by TRICARE insurance – military retirees and military family members – are in a holding pattern this week, along with Medicare beneficiaries.  The provisions of the 1997 Balanced Budget Act require a dramatic, 21.3% cut to physician reimbursements this year by both Medicare and TRICARE, whose policies generally proceed in lockstep (with changes implemented to TRICARE about a month after they are implemented for Medicare).  The cut was originally to take effect on 1 March, but Congress postponed it to 1 April.  Technically, the cut has taken effect for Medicare, but the program is waiting to process new claims to see if Congress will, in fact, override the automatic cuts as it has done in the past.

Jim Bunning and Tom Coburn have affected the progress of related legislation in the Senate, with their “holds” on it to require that Congress’ various routine authorizations – which include this on along with renewal of unemployment benefits – be paid for.  So not only are we all in limbo – patients, doctors, hospitals – but we are being besieged with requests for us to contact our Congressional representatives and make our concerns known.

This development comes at a time when virtually all 50 of the states have made significant cuts to Medicaid reimbursements. Read More…