As AAOS Now went to press, Congress passed legislation to replace the scheduled 10.1 percent cut in Medicare physician payments for 2008 with a 0.5 percent payment update through June 30. Because future funds will pay for the increase, Congress must again take action to avert 10+ percent payment cuts to physicians beginning on July 1.

The bill also updates Medicare payments to rural providers and extends the therapy cap exception to June 30, continues the Physician Quality Reporting Initiative through 2008, and funds the State Children’s Health Insurance Program through May 31, 2009. The President was expected to sign the legislation into law by year’s end.

For a full analysis of the measure, visit the AAOS government relations Web site, www.aaos.org/dc