APNewsBreak: Senate Democrats, White House seek separate bill to pay for doctor fees

APNewsBreak: Dems seek higher doctor payments

WASHINGTON — Senate Democrats at work on sweeping health care legislation hope to help their cause with quick passage of a separate bill that would give doctors a $247 billion increase in Medicare fees over a decade but raise federal deficits.

Democratic officials disclosed the plan Wednesday.

By creating a two-bill approach, Democrats intend to claim the more comprehensive health care measure meets President Barack Obama’s conditions — that it will neither add to deficits nor exceed $900 billion in costs over 10 years.

If approved and signed into law, the legislation relating to doctors would avert a 21 percent reduction in Medicare fees that is scheduled to take effect in January, as well as additional cuts in future years.