Early this morning the House of Representatives and Senate approved a measure to extend the payroll tax cut through February; the measure also postpones scheduled cuts in reimbursements to doctors who serve Medicare patients. And the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, anticipating congressional action to avert the reduction in the 2012 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, announced yesterday it is extending the 2012 Annual Participation Enrollment Period through February 14, 2012. The effective date for any participation status change during the extension, however, remains Sunday, January 1, 2012, and will be in force for the entire year. Contractors will accept and process any participation elections or withdrawals made during the extended enrollment period that are postmarked on or before Tuesday, February 14, 2012.Psychiatric News has provided extensive coverage of the issue of Medicare payment. To read about this issue, click here and here. (Image: karen roach/shutterstock.com)
