Among the options under consideration are bonus payments to primary care providers and surgeons practicing in underserved areas. According to the document released by the Senate Finance Committee on April 29, 2009, providers who “furnish at least 60% of their services in specified ambulatory settings would receive a bonus of at least 5% over the fee schedule amount for providing certain E/M services.” Additionally, general surgeons who provide services in “newly defined rural general surgeon scarcity areas” would receive 5% bonus “or some other amount” over the fee schedule for services provided between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2014. While these bonuses would likely be offset by pay cuts for other fee schedule services in accordance with MedPAC budget neutrality recommendations, the document leaves open the option for alternative funding sources.
The complete report discussing these and other policy options can be accessed here. According to a press release issued by the Committee, public comments on the policy options outlined in the document may be directed to Health_Reform@finance-dem.senate.gov by May 15, 2009.