Good luck finding a doctor unless it is an emergency!
Earlier this evening, the Senate failed to approve an amended version of H.R. 4851, the Continuing Extension Act of 2010, legislation which would continue the payment freeze at its current level through June 1. As a result of the Senate's failure to pass identical legislation addressing the extension of the Medicare physician payment freeze, Medicare contractors will begin processing claims on Thursday, April 15. The Senate is expected to return to consideration of this amended version of H.R. 4851 tomorrow.
Since the version of the extension legislation the Senate is considering is not identical to the version passed by the House on March 17, the House must approve this Senate passed version before sending it to the president for his signature. Earlier today, the House Rules Committee approved a rule allowing for swift consideration of this amended version of H.R. 4851. The House is expected to act on this legislation later this week.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) previously indicated that if legislation was not enacted by midnight April 14, Medicare contractors would begin processing the held April 1 claims.
