Obama signs bill delaying Medicare pay reductions

Image source: www.whitehouse.gov

President Obama signed the Medicare and Medicaid Extenders Act of 2010 Dec. 15, which delays for one year a reduction in Medicare physician payments that would otherwise take effect Jan. 1, 2011.

The act also extends other expiring Medicare and Medicaid payment provisions, changes limits on the amount of excess health insurance tax credits that must be repaid to the government, and makes other Medicare and Medicaid clarifications and adjustments.

The Senate passed the legislation on Dec. 7 and the House followed suit on Dec. 9.