Julie told me about this - "HARRISON COUNTY, MS (WLOX) - The President of the American Medical Association has a strong message for the U.S. Senate which failed to strike down a 21 percent Medicare physician payment formula."

A 21-percent cut in Medicare and Medicaid payouts to doctors takes effect today and could end up drastically affecting seniors and military patients.

Can you file your own Medicare claim? No, you cannot. There was a time when you could submit claims to Medicare yourself. But, back in 1992 Congress passed a law mandating that all providers must submit claims to Medicare on behalf of their patients.

My research with Mike lead me to this.

"Uncertainty about reimbursements from payers, including Medicare and private insurers, is a lingering issue for many doctors. They face a 21 percent overall cut in Medicare reimbursements that becomes effective today."

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed legislation to delay a 21.2% Medicare reimbursement cut that was scheduled to take effect on March 1, 2010. However, Congress will not pass legislation in time to avoid the March 1 implementation of the Medicare pay cut.

"Despite a last minute attempt to prevent a 21.2 percent cut in Medicare physician payments, the U.S. Senate ended the week without a solution."

Starting Monday, doctors receiving Medicare and Medicaid patients will receive a 21 percent pay reduction.

Vernon Wrote: Take a look at this article

"A Medicare meltdown now seems certain, as the U.S. Senate has left early for the weekend, abandoning seniors, military families and baby boomers. The Senate failed to repeal the Medicare physician payment formula that will cause a drastic 21 percent payment cut to physicians who care for Medicare and TRICARE patients."

The Regional Medical Center is due to receive about $944,000 in Medicare reimbursements, according to a Medicare Cost Report presented to hospital trustees Tuesday.