Due to continuing budget gridlock in Washington, sequestration has been triggered – meaning automatic cuts to a wide range of federal programs, including Medicare payments to providers and health plans. While the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has not yet announced detailed plans for implementing the sequester requirements for its programs, this Alert answers some basic questions about sequestration and how it will impact the Medicare program. Among other things, the Alert addresses what Medicare spending is impacted by sequestration, when the Medicare cuts start, and how long sequestration will last.