If the Senate fails to act before the end of the year, there will be a 21 percent overall cut to the fee-schedule, with many ENT codes experiencing an even greater decrease. Contact your Senators Now!

Every autumn, we hear that a huge Medicare reimbursement cut is on the way. And until now, Congress has intervened to block scheduled cuts. But with 20 days left in 2009, the cuts are on the docket and Medicare allowables are set to experience a weighted drop of 21%.

This year CMS’s plan to achieve a now 21% net decrease, includes the elimination of consult codes. This move, which is supposed to be budget neutral, will have a negative impact on the consult heavy otolaryngology specialty. In the current formula, if the SGR decrease is not eliminated by Congress, consults will experience up to a 35% decrease, and new patient visits 15% (source: 2010 preliminary fee extracts and RVUs).

 It is important that we contact our States’ Senators and Representatives to let them know the negative impact this will have on our medical practice.

Contact your State’s Federal legislators today and voice your opinion that you cannot accept a 21%+ reduction in reimbursement.

For information on how to contact your State’s legislators

For the Senate

http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

For the House of Representatives

http://www.house.gov/writerep/