WASHINGTON, Aug. 12 (UPI) -- Unless Congress intervenes, doctors will see a 4.2 percent cut in their Medicare payments beginning next year, The New York Times reported Monday.
The Times said the Bush administration, in a proposed rule to be published Friday, says the cut is needed under the existing Medicare law. Many doctors and some members of Congress disagree. The cuts could affect 40 million elderly and disabled Americans.
Medicare officials say Congress could avert the cut as part of legislation to add drug benefits to Medicare. But there is no guarantee that Congress will finish work on the legislation before Jan. 1, when the cut is to take effect.
Administration officials said the cut in Medicare payments to doctors would not harm beneficiaries or hurt their ability to obtain care. But doctors said the new cut, after a 5.4 percent cut last year, would give them a fresh incentive to limit the number of elderly patients.
