AANEM calls on CMS to distribute overdue reimbursements

Two hundred million dollars has been included in the recently passed Medicare & Medicaid Extenders Act to address overdue Medicare reimbursements that should have been received by physicians under the Affordable Care Act (ACA ) of 2010.

ACA called on CMS to reimburse physicians retroactively to January 1, 2010 for calculation errors in the geographic practice cost index (GPCI) for work and practice expenses.   Additionally, miscalculations in professional liability insurance and practice expenses associated with some high risk procedures forced many physicians to accept payments 40% lower than they should have been.  

The short-term stop-gap measures enacted throughout 2010 caused payment uncertainties, delays and disruptions for many of our members.  Recognizing the need for relief, AANEM has joined with the American Medical Association to request CMS immediately announce how it intends to act to ensure all retroactive payment increases are distributed to physicians in a timely manner.