Under the Deficit Reduction Act, Medicare will no longer pay for which of the following?

The correct option is associated with the specific provisions of the Deficit Reduction Act, which specifically addresses the issue of hospital-acquired conditions. Under this legislation, Medicare will not reimburse hospitals for certain infections that patients acquire during their hospital stay, which are often preventable. This was enacted to encourage hospitals to implement better safety practices and infection control measures.

Infections following surgery, such as surgical site infections, were identified as conditions that can significantly impact patient outcomes and healthcare costs. By not covering these costs, Medicare aims to promote accountability among healthcare providers to maintain high standards of care and reduce the occurrence of preventable conditions.

The other options, while related to healthcare services, do not reflect the specific intents of the Deficit Reduction Act in terms of what Medicare reimbursement was affected. For instance, physical therapy costs and non-emergency medical transportation are still covered under specific circumstances. Similarly, routine check-ups do not fall under the umbrella of hospital-acquired conditions and are generally covered by Medicare as part of preventive care.