Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Obama Signs 'Doc Fix' Bill Overhauling How Medicare Pays Doctors
The Associated Press: Obama Signs Overhaul Of How Medicare Pays Doctors
Ending years of last-minute fixes, President Barack Obama on Thursday signed legislation permanently changing how Medicare pays doctors, a rare bipartisan achievement by Democrats and Republicans. The bill overhauls a 1997 law that aimed to slow Medicare's growth by limiting reimbursements to doctors. Instead, doctors threatened to leave the Medicare program, and that forced Congress repeatedly to block those reductions. (Kuhnhenn and Fram, 4/16)
USA Today: Obama Signs 'Doc Fix' Bill In The Rose Garden
The president praised congressional leaders from both parties for the "doc fix" bill that includes provisions for a children's health care program. He said the plan will make the health care system "smarter," without denying service. "This was a bipartisan effort, Republicans and Democrats coming together to do something that's smart and common sense," Obama said. "My hope is it becomes a habit." He declined to take questions, including one about how the bill might affect the budget deficit. (Jackson, 4/16)
Reuters: Obama Signs Bill Fixing Medicare Doctors' Pay
U.S. President Barack Obama signed a bill into law on Thursday that repairs the formula for reimbursing Medicare physicians after Congress, in rare bipartisan fashion, passed a fix earlier this week to prevent a 21 percent cut in doctors' pay. (4/16)
