Reps. Brad Schneider (D-Ill.) and David McKinley (R-W.Va.) announced on Jan. 29 that they reintroduced AAMC-supported legislation to extend the current moratorium on the 2% Medicare sequester. The Medicare Sequester COVID Moratorium Act (H.R. 315) would delay the Medicare sequester until the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency.
According to Schneider, “hospitals are reporting devastating staffing shortages, overloaded ICUs, and diminishing supplies of personal protective equipment” as the COVID-19 pandemic continues throughout the country. “Our health care professionals report growing burnout and hospitals are experiencing decreased revenue as more are forced to stop elective procedures. Reinstating across the board cuts to our providers now would create unnecessary burdens at the worst possible time.”
McKinley added that suspending the “Medicare reimbursement cuts will allow hospitals and doctors to keep their doors open and continue providing critical care to their patients.”
The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 previously extended the moratorium until March 31 [see Washington Highlights, Dec. 23, 2020]. The AAMC has consistently supported extending the moratorium on the Medicare sequester [see Washington Highlights, Nov. 13, 2020].