'Doc fix' no longer up for cloture on Monday

[cal04]

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/63597-doc-fix-no-longer-up-for-cloture-on-monday

Senate Democrats have decided to postpone Monday's scheduled cloture vote on a bill that would reform how Medicare reimburses doctors and hospitals.

Initially, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) scheduled his motion to end floor debate and bring the so-called 'doc fix bill' to a final vote at the beginning of next week. But the leader reportedly changed his mind on Friday, deciding instead to he would vitiate Monday's vote so both parties' lawmakers could broker an agreement on a few remaining amendments, his office said Sunday.

Reid's office did not specify what those amendments might be, but Republicans have previously suggested they hoped to add pay-fors to the Democrats' bill in an attempt to reduce its $248-billion footprint.

"I think virtually all of my members are in favor of fixing this reimbursement problem, but we think there are ways to pay for it," Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said last week. "And when it comes up in the Senate, we're going to offer amendments that will give us an opportunity to pay for an adjustment that most of us think ought to be -- ought to be done.

[madfloridian]

1. They'd better fix it or payment rates go down 20 %.

That would be a horrible thing for seniors.

[madfloridian]

2. Aren't we caving in to the GOP again?

What am I missing?

[loudsue]

3. Probably. The GOP aren't going to vote for ANY of it. It's just

Harry's way of giving in to the insurance companies.