The House of Representatives passed legislation to extend the payroll tax break, fee schedule update, rural payment update, therapy cap exception extension and other end year provisions.  The Senate also passed the measure this morning and was signed by the President this afternoon(12/23/2011).  This will prevent the 27.4% fee schedule reduction on January 1, 2012, maintain the 1.0 GPCI fllor on rural paymetns, and provides for a continuation of the exceptions process to the $1880 therapy cap until February 29, 2012.

When Congress returns this year, attention will turn to the confrerence committee assigned to hammer out a deal between the two chambers to prevent these cuts and caps effective March 1, 2012.  But the differences remain large over how to pay for the deal.  The profession must continue to remain vigilant to prevent this from happening next year.