The US House passed a bill last week that would extend the moratorium on the 2% across-the-board cuts to all Medicare providers—also known as Medicare sequestration cuts—through the end of the calendar year. Introduced by Representatives John Yarmuth (D-KY), Richard Neal (D-MA), Frank Pallone (D-NJ), and David Scott (D-GA), H.R. 1868 would provide relief from payment cuts to all providers who serve Medicare patients and stop the cost of the American Rescue Plan from leading to new sequester cuts. Congress temporarily suspended the sequester cuts in previous COVID-19 relief legislation, but without additional Congressional action the cuts will resume on April 1.
On the Senate side, Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Susan Collins (R-ME) last week introduced the Medicare Sequester Relief Act (S. 748), which will extend the moratorium on the Medicare sequester cuts through the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency.
GNYHA is grateful to the House for passing legislation that would deliver Medicare sequester relief to providers struggling with increased coronavirus-related expenses and decreased revenues. We encourage GNYHA members to contact their senators and representatives to support Medicare sequester relief for hospitals, nursing homes, and other health care providers.