Omnibus averts some physician fee cuts
Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios
The omnibus will give doctors partial relief from Medicare cuts, continue higher Puerto Rico Medicaid funding and boost access to opioid treatment, congressional aides say.
- The deal also extends the telehealth flexibilities that have been part of the national public health emergency.
Provider cuts: The package will stave off 2.5 percentage points of a 4.5 percent cut to the Medicare physician fee schedule in 2023, and 1.25 percentage points of cuts in 2024.
Telehealth: Medicare telehealth flexibilities will also be extended for two years. The provisions have already been extended for 151 days after the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency.
- This includes an extension of telehealth flexibilities for high-deductible health plans coupled with Health Savings Accounts.
Medicaid: Puerto Rico will get a multi-year funding deal for its Medicaid program through fiscal year 2027. The FMAP will be kept at 76 percent, averting a drop to 55 percent that was set to take place this month.
Opioids: The omnibus also will include a bill to remove a requirement that health care providers get a special waiver from the DEA before being able to prescribe buprenorphine, a treatment for opioid addiction.
