If Congress passes a temporary fix to the sustainable growth rate for this year, as is expected, the total one-year cost will be $25 billion, according to the most recent figures from the Congressional Budget Office.
The Hill obtained early results of the CBO's projections, which show the costs of this year's potential fix are much higher from the earlier estimate of $18.5 billion.
The SGR, which is the formula used to determine Medicare payments to physicians, will slash Medicare reimbursements by 26.5 percent unless Congress intervenes. If Congress delays the cuts and freezes associated with the SGR, which it has done every year since 2003, the cost to offset that measure keeps rising.
A two-year "doc fix" would cost roughly $41.5 billion, according to the report. A 10-year patch would cost in the neighborhood of $244 billion.
The Hill obtained early results of the CBO's projections, which show the costs of this year's potential fix are much higher from the earlier estimate of $18.5 billion.
The SGR, which is the formula used to determine Medicare payments to physicians, will slash Medicare reimbursements by 26.5 percent unless Congress intervenes. If Congress delays the cuts and freezes associated with the SGR, which it has done every year since 2003, the cost to offset that measure keeps rising.
A two-year "doc fix" would cost roughly $41.5 billion, according to the report. A 10-year patch would cost in the neighborhood of $244 billion.
More Articles on the Sustainable Growth Rate:
AARP, Other Organizations Urge Congress to Eliminate SGR
CBO: As They Stand, Medicare Payment Rates to Cost $10B More in FY 2013
CMS to Cut Physicians' Medicare Payments 26.5% in 2013 Unless SGR Bypassed