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Biden signs bill extending Medicare add-on payments for 2 years

The legislation also delays a 4% Medicare cut until 2025 and extends many telehealth reimbursement waivers and flexibilities

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File photo/Patrick Semansky/Associated Press

By Leila Merrill
EMS1

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden on Thursday signed a $1.7 trillion spending bill that includes an extension of the 2% urban, 3% rural and 22.6% super rural Medicare payment add-ons for ground ambulance services through the end of 2024.

Congress passed the legislation earlier this month.

The legislation also delays a 4% Medicare cut until 2025 under the Statutory Pay-As-You -Go Act of 2010.

Many of the telehealth reimbursement waivers and flexibilities enacted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic have been extended until Dec. 31, 2024.

In a news release, Page, Wolfberg & Wirth encouraged EMS agencies to ensure their Medicare administrative contractors have the updated rates.

The legislation will keep the federal government operating through the end of the federal budget year in 2023. More information about the spending package can be found here.