Underneath the specter of the national health care debate, concerns linger about another looming issue. With Medicare and Tricare reimbursement rates to care providers slated to be cut 21 percent on April 1, both the Military Officers Association of America and the Fleet Reserve Association are urging their members to press Congress into action. The change will force “many providers to stop seeing Medicare and Tricare beneficiaries,” FRA said in a recent announcement. “The Senate approved a six-month fix as part of its jobs bill. If the House makes any changes to the jobs bill, House and Senate leaders will have to resolve their differences and re-pass a final fix in both chambers,” MOAA said in a March 19 statement. “Despite all the drama on national health care reform, let’s not forget the importance of staving off that huge, near-term Medic are/Tricare cut.” The MOAA statement refers to a bill the Senate passed that would delay the cuts. The House must approve a similar measure, and President Obama must sign the final bill, before any change in the April 1 deadline can take effect.
