President Obama signed the Temporary Extension Act of 2010 (HR 4691) into law March 2, just hours after the Senate passed it. This legislation temporarily freezes Medicare physician payments at the current zero percent update and extends the therapy cap exception process through March 31.
The bill also provides several short-term extensions of several authorities, including those related to COBRA premiums.
The 21.2 percent Medicare physician payment cut will go into effect April 1, unless Congress further delays it or devises a permanent fix to the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula.
Currently on the Senate table is the American Workers, State, and Business Relief Act of 2010 (HR 4213), which would extend the Medicare payment freeze until Sept. 30 and the therapy cap exception process until Dec. 31.