- Home
- Advocacy
- Latest News and Practice Data
- CMS furloughs nearly 50% of staff during shutdown
We're one week into the government shutdown and as of today, there’s been little progress by Congress to end it.
We noted last week that the Medicare program will continue covering and paying for physician services backed by advance appropriations.
- The CMS is also maintaining payments for Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and continuing essential federal insurance marketplace activities.
By the numbers: During the shutdown, the CMS retains 53% of its staff to ensure that essential operations continue, while 47% are furloughed.
- Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) have been instructed to temporarily hold claims for 10 business days, though this should have minimal effect on physicians due to the 14-day payment floor.
- Physicians may continue to submit claims during this period, but payment will not be released until the hold is lifted.
- For the latest information, physicians should monitor their MAC's website and this CMS webpage.
Go deeper: Read more information on how the shutdown affects the Department of Health and Human Services.