Week of April 12, 2010
www.military.com/military-report/action-needed-to-fix-tricare
As of April 1, 2010, Medicare and TRICARE payments to physicians were cut by 21 percent. TRICARE is currently continuing to process claims without applying the reimbursement reduction. When Medicare declares new reimbursement rates, TRICARE will take 30 to 60 days to change business systems to align, as required by law, with the new Medicare rates. The reduced payment rate may result in fewer doctors being willing to accept TRICARE, which could leave millions of seniors and military beneficiaries without a primary care provider.
Organizations like the Military Officers Association of America are urging the Senate to pass H.R. 4851 which would extend the current payment rate until May 1, 2010. The Senate is considering taking action on H.R. 4851 but it is being delayed over technical budget details.