January 2013

A Polsinelli Shughart Update:

Notable Healthcare Provisions Passed in the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012

On January 1, 2013 Congress approved the American Taxpayer Relief Act (the "ATRA") avoiding the dreaded "fiscal cliff" which would have instituted income tax rate increases and spending reductions. The ATRA was signed into law by President Obama on January 2, 2013 and garnered much attention in the individual tax realm, particularly the extension of the 2012 income tax rates for individuals earning less than $400,000 and married couples earning less than $450,000. However, most significant for the health care community were the over 40 Medicare and Medicaid changes affecting payment and regulation of various items and services. As a result, health care providers will be faced with a myriad of challenges until Congress must again address the sequestration cuts mandated by the Budget Control Act of 2011 in the first quarter of 2013.

This update will discuss the following:

• Notable ATRA provisions, including the Medicare physician payment update, changes in collection of Medicare overpayments, and a continuing focus on performance improvement;

• Various Medicare extensions; and,

• Other health provisions and extensions on existing health programs.

[Click here to read the full e-Alert.]

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