Speaker of the House John Boehner announced early Sunday morning
that House Republicans would oppose the Senate passed extension of
various Medicare provisions, including rural specific provisions. The
Senate passed package would extend, for a two-month period, the
outpatient hold harmless provision, Medicare Section 508
reclassification, reimbursement increases for ambulance services, rural
mental health add-ons, extension of therapy cap exemptions and an update
for the sustainable growth rate within the physician fee schedule.
The Senate package modified House legislation that failed to
include a number of these provisions and cut payments for bad-debt
reimbursement, outpatient hospital visits and DSH facilities.
Speaker Boehner advocated a formal conference between the House and
the Senate that would reconcile these differences. The Speaker told
“Meet the Press” that the extensions included, both for Medicare and
taxes, should be for at least a year. NRHA continues to advocate for
the inclusion of all expiring rural provisions. Please continue to
monitor this blog and NRHA’s
congressional action kitfor updates and developments.
More information on Speaker Boehner’s comments and the conference process is available
here and
here.