This afternoon the Senate passed the House bi-partisan budget bill which contains a three month Medicare SGR reimbursement patch and a three month extension of the therapy cap exceptions process. It postpones the pending 2014 20% cut in Medicare reimbursement and instead contains a 0.5% increase through March 31. The President has indicated he will sign the bill.

The three month “fix” allows time for Congress to return and resume discussions on the permanent SGR bill, the therapy cap and other Medicare items. Under the extension, the therapy cap exceptions process remains the same through March 31; i.e., use of the KX modifier after $1,920 (the new cap level for 2014) and the manual medical review process at $3,700.

We will have some work to do when Congress returns in January to affect more permanent change. Together we can make a difference.