Companion SGR bill unveiled, pays for repeal with steep levies on tax scofflaws

Less than a week after bipartisan House leaders introduced a bill to repeal the sustainable growth rate, the committee on Tuesday released more detailed plans on how it will pay for the $200 billion bill.

The “Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015” calls for stiffer fines for tax delinquent Medicare service providers, keeping reimbursement foracute care providers to 1 percent and by upping premiums for wealthier Medicare beneficiaries.

The bill also extends funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for two years, but does not increase it.

The House is expected to consider the bill this week, days before an April 1 deadline for Congress to act prior to physicians facing a 21 to 25 percent pay cut in Medicare reimbursements.