With a confluence of spending cuts and tax increases looming in January 2013, President Obama and leaders from Congress and the private sector are meeting this week to discuss deficit-reduction strategies that will avoid the so-called fiscal cliff. Significant reform to Medicare and other entitlements are on the table as key possibilities in a debt-slashing deal.

President Obama has called for tax hikes on the wealthy to increase revenues, but Republicans are pushing for tax reforms paired with entitlement reform as a way to bring down the debt. Despite pressure from members of his own party and advocacy groups, Obama has shown a willingness to look at entitlement reform as a potential component of the grand bargain needed between Democrats and Republicans in advance of the January deadline. 

If Democrats and Republicans don't reach a grand bargain ahead of the new year, Medicare providers will be hit with a 2 percent across-the-board cut as part of mandated expense reductions. These could hit providers especially hard, as most are struggling to adapt to reimbursement cuts under the Affordable Care Act.

The Medicare NewsGroup has published numerous resources to help journalists understand the fiscal cliff's impact on Medicare:

MNG Understanding Medicare

Fiscal Cliff Discussions, Looming Cuts Have Medicare Providers Facing Double Whammy

Driving Off the Fiscal Cliff: How Will Beneficiaries, Providers Fare If We Fall?


MNG Fiscal Cliff FAQs

What Is the Fiscal Cliff?

What Part Does Medicare Play in the Fiscal Cliff Discussions?

What Is Sequestration?

How Did We Arrive at Sequestration?

What Does Sequestration Mean to Medicare?

How Will the Sequestration Cuts Affect the Health Care Industry?

What Is Means Testing?

What Are the Options for Solving the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) Problem?

Is Raising Taxes the Only Method That Congress is Considering to Cover Future Medicare Expenses?

What Medicare Services May Be Cut During the Deficit Reduction Process?

How Much Does Medicare Cost? How Much Is It Expected to Cost in the Future?

How is Medicare Spending Related to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP)?

What Percentage of Federal Outlays Does Medicare Represent?

How Does Medicare Compare to Social Security in Federal Spending?

What Are the Key Drivers of Medicare Spending Growth?

MNG Beyond the Sound Bite

Fact/Fiction: Medicare Beneficiaries Would Have the Same Access to Health Care Services If Payments to Providers Are Cut

Fact/Fiction: Medicare Is Politically Immune to Budgetary Reduction