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Home > Medical Professionals > Health Policy and Government Relations > Physician Payment > House Passes Children's Health And Medicare Protection (CHAMP) Act Before August Recess

House Passes Children's Health And Medicare Protection (CHAMP) Act Before August Recess

The House of Representatives passed the CHAMP Act, H.R. 3162, on August 1 by a vote of 225 to 204.  It includes the re-authorization of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) and repeals the Sustainable Growth Rate for determining the yearly Medicare physician payment update.  Instead of a 10% cut included in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed 2008 rule, the bill provides a positive update of .5% for 2008 and for 2009.  The offsets are cuts to Medicare Advantage (Part C) and an increase in the tobacco tax. 

Also, there are six service categories based on separate conversion factors, with three relating to vascular surgery:  imaging and diagnostic tests, major procedures defined by 10 and 90 day global periods and minor procedures defined by 0 day, XXX and ZZZ globals.  In addition, an expert panel would be established to review mis-valued physician services, the Physician Quality Reporting Initiative would be unfunded, a confidential MD feedback mechanism would be established and consolidation of codes would be undertaken.

Regarding imaging, the bill directs CMS to increase its assumption on the amount of time imaging equipment is used from 50% to 75%.  Another important provision would only allow Medicare payment for imaging services provided in accredited facilities.  The bill expands the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Mammography Quality Standards Act to all modalities, so FDA would oversee this and approve at least two accreditation bodies per treatment modality.  This would apply to non-invasive vascular diagnostic studies in 2012.  Also, personnel who perform diagnostic imaging services would be required to be certified. 

The Senate separated SCHIP and the physician payment update into two bills.  SCHIP was passed on August 2 by a vote of 68-31.  The physician payment update bill is in the process of being drafted and won’t be introduced until at least September.  This will eventually have to be reconciled with the House version and the President is already threatening to veto this legislation.

There are Congressional grassroots letters posted on the SVS web site on the physician payment update and imaging.  SVS urges members to email letters to their representative and two senators on these issues.  Last year, SVS members emailed 775 letters on imaging cuts and 450 letters on the physician payment update, which got the attention of Congress on these two issues.  The results were five non-invasive vascular diagnostic codes being removed from imaging cuts and a freeze on the physician payment update, which averted a 5% reduction.