Docs offered freeze in Medicare cuts

WASHINGTON, Oct. 20 (UPI) -- Democratic leaders have offered to freeze cuts in Medicare payments to doctors in exchange for doctors' support of healthcare reform, sources say.

During a meeting on Capitol Hill last week with several doctors groups, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada said the Senate would consider legislation to freeze the cuts, mandated by a 1997 law, over the next decade, The Hill reported. In return, the leadership made clear it expected physician support for the healthcare bill, sources told the publication.

"They said they're going to need our help in getting healthcare reform over the goal line and they expect our support," a participant who represents doctors said of Reid, Finance Committee Chairman Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., and Banking Chairman Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn.

"All three said the same thing: They want and expect our support," the participant said.

Another participant told the Washington publication White House officials "were in for five minutes and then went to the House side to talk strategy. They were there because the White House wanted to show how serious they were and to give their stamp of approval," the source said.

J. James Rohack, president of the American Medical Association, said it would be difficult for doctors to support the Senate healthcare legislation if longterm cuts to Medicare payments weren't addressed. The Finance Committee bill would increase doctors' payments by 0.5 percent in 2010, but leave doctors facing a 25 percent cut in 2011.

"It would be very challenging for physicians looking at a .5 percent increase next year and 25 percent cut the following year to say, 'Yay, let's support the reform bill' or to say the health reform bill would be viable," said Rohack, who didn't attend the meeting.