Friday, May. 25, 2007
Capps introduces legislation to adjust Medicare reimbursement rates locally
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closeU.S. Rep. Lois Capps (D-Santa Barbara) introduced legislation Thursday with seven other California lawmakers that would adjust Medicare reimbursement rates for counties such as Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo so that they more accurately reflect the actual cost of practicing medicine in those counties.
“Our health care system on the Central Coast is facing a serious crisis due in part to the inadequate Medicare reimbursement rate currently being paid to our health care providers,” Capps said in a statement.
Capps called the physician payment formula “outdated and deeply flawed” jeopardizing doctor’s abilities to maintain their practices and see Medicare patients.
This bill, HR 2484, would move the higher cost counties out of localities with lower reimbursement rates so they receive rates that more accurately reflect the actual cost of practicing medicine.
The California Medical Association, the state’s largest physician group, supports the legislation.
-Sarah Arnquist
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