Breaking News on Medicare Therapy Cap

On April 14, 2015, the Senate voted on H.R. 2 to repeal and replace the flawed sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula that is used to determine payment for outpatient services under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) (this includes outpatient therapy) and extend the outpatient therapy cap exception process that had expired on April 1, 2015. In addition, Senators Cardin (D-MD) and Vitter (R-LA) proposed an amendment to permanently repeal the Medicare outpatient therapy caps. Under agreement established by Senate leadership, the amendment required 60 votes to pass. This amendment would be voted on first by the Senate before taking a vote on a possible revised H.R. 2 bill.

The results of the amendment vote to completely repeal the Medicare outpatient therapy cap was