On Friday, March 26, at the urging of the American College of Radiology® (ACR®) and many other physician and non-physician provider groups, the Senate voted in favor of legislation to extend the current moratorium on the 2% across-the-board Medicare reduction commonly referred to as the “Medicare Sequester” through the end of 2021.
The sequester, which has been in place since 2013, was paused by Congress in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and again in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, which was signed into law last December in order to help physicians address challenges associated with the pandemic. The most recent pause was set to expire March 31, 2021.
The House, which is currently not in session, is expected to pass the legislation when it returns the week of April 12. The bill will then go to the White House, where President Biden is expected to sign it into law.
CMS has advised providers to hold claims in anticipation of congressional action.