Although a 4.4 percent cut in Medicare physician payments was supposed to have been blocked, it didn’t happen as planned. The Senate made some changes to other parts of the budget bill and returned it to the House, but the House had recessed. Meanwhile, the law required Medicare to commence the 4.4 percent cut on Jan. 1, and Medicare complied. The House is expected to approve the legislation, perhaps by Feb. 1. Once it becomes law, Medicare will reprocess all affected claims and pay providers the difference. It could, however, be as late as July before all doctors receive their funds. Providers who refused to accept Medicare patients will have 45 days to move back to Medicare. Tricare is not expected to impose the 4.4 percent cut, according to officials.