The 2011 update was a zero percent update over the rates in effect
in December. The zero percent was mandated by the M&M Extenders
Act of 2010 (enacted 12/15). The Physician Payment and Therapy
Relief Act of 2010 (enacted 11/30) was the legislation that extended
the 2.2% through 12/31/2010. Thus, two separate pieces of
legislation. Only for the June update (6/25 enactment of the
Preservation of Access to Care for Medicare Beneficiaries and
Pension Relief Act of 2010) were some claims processed at the
negative rates. The law was enacted 6/25, but retroactive to 6/1 so,
you may recall, there was a long hold but some contractors had to
start releasing claims and paying at the negative update. Only a few
were in this position and relatively few claims were processed at
the negative rates and those were quickly reprocessed, after the new
legislation was implemented. I don't have the exact number and I
don't know if any of the paid claims were for Texas physicians.
Ellen B. Griffith
Public Affairs Specialist
Office of External Affairs and Beneficiary Services
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services