Friday, November 20, 2009

Republicans say a bill to prevent steep Medicare payment cuts to doctors is little more than payback for physicians supporting the health care overhaul.

The Democratic-controlled House voted Thursday to add more than $200 billion to the deficit to prevent the cuts.

Doctors are facing a 21% reduction in Medicare reimbursement rates in January unless Congress acts first. It's the result of a flawed funding-formula that lawmakers have had to step in nearly annually to block in recent years.

The bill passed Thursday attempts a permanent fix by restructuring the payments and making other changes.

Past votes on the issue have been largely bipartisan, but this year the doctor payment issue has become a proxy for the larger health overhaul debate.