Page "Medicare (United States)" Paragraph 98

In 2006, the SGR mechanism was scheduled to decrease physician payments by 4. 4 %.

( This number results from a 7 % decrease in physician payments times a 2. 8 % inflation adjustment increase.

) Congress overrode this decrease in the Deficit Reduction Act ( P. L.

109-362 ), and held physician payments in 2006 at their 2005 levels.

Similarly, another congressional act held 2007 payments at their 2006 levels, and HR 6331 held 2008 physician payments to their 2007 levels, and provided for a 1. 1 % increase in physician payments in 2009.

Without further continuing congressional intervention, the SGR is expected to decrease physician payments from 25 % to 35 % over the next several years.