However, the bill only funds the government through Jan. 15, 2014 and raises the debt ceiling limit through Feb. 7, 2014. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act was a contentious point leading up to this bill; many Republicans hoped to attach measures that would defund healthcare reform to the bill, but the final legislation left it relatively unscathed.
The only change made was to impose a verification process for people who receive subsidized health insurance, according to the report. Here is what the bill means for spine surgeons and other providers:
• Social Security will be paid.
• Medicare and Medicaid payments will not likely be delayed, as some had predicted with a prolonged shutdown.
• People will continue to enroll in health insurance exchanges.
According to a report in Bloomberg Busienssweek, Tea Party Republicans have vowed to continue fighting against healthcare reform legislation in the upcoming budget battles. However, more moderate Republicans are not expected to follow suit and likely other aspects of the national agenda—such as tax reform—will be more prominently negotiated. As a result, many surgery centers will continue to face the same challenges and opportunities from healthcare reform.
More Articles on Spine Surgeons:
North American Spine Society Announces 2013-2014 Offices
Electronic Medical Records for Spine Practices: A Good Investment or Necessary Evil?
A New Spine Surgery Technique to Minimize Blood Loss in Spinal Deformity Correction: Q&A With Dr. Fred Sweet
