On Capitol Hill, Some Debt Limit Solutions Include ‘Doc Fix’
In other congressional news, health insurers are upping their efforts to fight Medicare Advantage cuts.
The Washington Post: With The Clock Ticking, Republicans See A Solution To Raising Debt Limit, But Not A Fight
A handful of bargaining ideas have emerged, with a proposal to restore recently cut military benefits in exchange for a one-year extension as a leading option. Other ideas, such as tying a debt-limit extension to the “doc fix,” which would alter the way doctors are reimbursed for Medicare treatments, are in the mix. One idea that gained traction over the weekend would combine the military and Medicare issues with the debt-ceiling extension, along with offsetting cuts that would prolong portions of the automatic spending decreases known as sequestration and changes to pension programs (Kane and Costa, 2/9).
The Hill: Medicare Fight Looms Over Midterms
Health insurers are arming themselves for an aggressive campaign to beat back cuts to Medicare Advantage. Insurers are hoping that their seven-figure lobbying and advertising effort, coupled with pressure from key business interests, will convince the administration to abandon the cuts that officials are expected to announce on Feb. 21 (Viebeck, 2/8).
