On February 25, 2010, the House of Representatives approved H. R. 4691, the “Temporary Extension Act of 2010,” by a voice vote. Among other things, the bill would extend current Medicare physician fee schedule rates through the end of March 2010; in the absence of such an extension, Medicare payments will be subject to a 21.2 % across-the-board cut on March 1, 2010 under the statutory sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula. The bill also would extend the Medicare outpatient therapy cap exceptions process – which expired at the end of 2009 – through March 2010.  The bill now moves to the Senate, where its fate is uncertain because at least one Senator is objecting to the legislation’s cost not being offset. A vote on the measure therefore may not come until mid-week next week if parliamentary steps (cloture vote) must be taken to move the legislation.  Even if the SGR fix does not occur before March 1, CMS can hold claims for physician services for 14 days before processing them with the 21.2 % fee cut.