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A trade group representing rehabilitation hospitals is pressuring Congress not to cut programs it cares about to offset the cost of paying doctors under Medicare. Officials with the American Medical Rehabilitation Providers Association are meeting with members of the Senate Finance Committee, House Ways and Means Committee and other lawmakers on Tuesday as part of a push to prevent the cuts. (Sullivan, 2/24)

Physicians who treat Medicare patients wouldn't be the only health professionals to feel pain if Congress fails to step in to avert scheduled payment cuts at the end of March, or permanently repeal the formula that dictates them. Any provider who is paid for services under the Medicare physician fee schedule would be affected by the reductions prescribed by the oft-criticized sustainable growth formula, or SGR. The cohort includes nurse practitioners, physician assistants, psychologists, social workers, physical therapists and diagnostic testing facilities. (Attias, 2/24)