The House has approved a $210 billion measure to avert steep cuts in Medicare payments to doctors. The legislation, known on Capitol Hill as the "doc fix," would prevent a 21% cut in Medicare payments to doctors set to take effect in January, and also prevent further cuts in the years ahead. The bill seeks to correct a flawed payment formula that stems from earlier legislation intended to control the steep rise in Medicare costs. But Congress has stepped in repeatedly in recent years to avoid the cuts to doctor payments, the New York Times reports.
