government
Conferees named to negotiate Medicare pay solution
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Jan. 16, 2012
Leaders in the House and Senate have appointed all of the members to a conference committee charged with negotiating payroll tax extension legislation that also will address Medicare physician payment rates for the rest of 2012.
On Dec. 23, 2011, Congress approved a delay of a 27.4% cut to physician payments for two months, buying more time for the two chambers to reconcile differences over a longer extension of current Medicare rates and a payroll tax holiday. Congressional leaders in passing the short-term bill agreed to appoint conferees who would negotiate a longer-term bill before March 1, when the Medicare cut otherwise will return.
House leaders have named Reps. Kevin Brady (R, Texas), Dave Camp (R, Mich.), Renee Ellmers (R, N.C.), Nan Hayworth (R, N.Y.), Tom Price, MD (R, Ga.), Tom Reed (R, N.Y.), Fred Upton (R, Mich.), Greg Walden (R, Ore.), Sandy Levin (D, Mich.), Xavier Becerra (D, Calif.), Chris Van Hollen (D, Md.), Allyson Schwartz (D, Pa.) and Henry Waxman (D, Calif.). Senate negotiators are Sens. Max Baucus (D, Mont.), Jack Reed (D, R.I.), Benjamin Cardin (D, Md.), Bob Casey (D, Pa.), Jon Kyl (R, Ariz.), Mike Crapo (R, Idaho) and John Barrasso, MD (R, Wyo.).
The House officially will return from its holiday recess on Jan. 17. The Senate is set to reconvene on Jan. 23.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2012/01/16/gvbf0116.htm.
