Congress Extends Medicare Physician Payment Relief Through the End of 2021

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act suspended the sequestration payment adjustment percentage of 2% applied to all Medicare Fee-for-Service claims from May 1 through December 31, 2020. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, extended the suspension period to March 31, 2021. An Act to Prevent Across-the-Board Direct Spending Cuts, and for Other Purposes, signed into law on April 14, 2021, extends the suspension period to December 31, 2021.

Medicare administrative contractors will:

• Release any previously held claims with dates of service on or after April 1
• Reprocess any claims paid with the reduction applied

Provider don’t need to take any action as CMS will automatically process payments to reflect the extended 2% relief.