November 10--While not getting as much publicity as the health care reform bill that was passed by the House, the battle to repeal the January change in the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) continued, with the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) weighing in with a cost-estimate on a House bill that would replace the 21% cut in Medicare payments.

The bill under consideration is House Bill 3961 (you can read it here in pdf form http://docs.house.gov/rules/health/111_sgr1.pdf ), the “Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act of 2009.

According to the CBO’s cost estimate, the bill would increase direct spending by approximately $210 billion, with $195 billion in payments to physicians and an additional $64 billion in Medicare Advantage and TRICARE spending. However, some of the costs (almost $50 billion) would be recovered in Part B premiums.

The House late last week set parameters for debate on HR 3961 but a vote was delayed by the Veterans Day recess. Debate and a vote on the bill could happen as soon as next week, November 16.

Since the Senate debate on a similar SGR reform bill stalled, there has been no further movement in that body.