Lawmakers near deal on doctors' Medicare payments

[December 07, 2010]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- Congressional officials say top lawmakers are close to an agreement on a one-year bill to shield doctors from a large cut in Medicare payments.

The agreement would mean the current set of fees for doctors who treat Medicare patients would remain in place through the end of 2011.

Without action by Congress, doctors would face a cut of about 23 percent in their Medicare reimbursements.

The cost of the bill is about $19 billion, and would be offset by savings elsewhere in the budget.

The officials who spoke about the negotiations did so on condition of anonymity, saying they were not authorized to discuss the details publicly.

[Associated Press; By DAVID ESPO]

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