Last Wednesday, the Senate had agreed to ward off the 25 percent of pay cut for doctors who are treating patients, mostly elders who are eligible of Medicare health programs.

It was voted upon at the Senate through the process of voice voting and until they finally came approve a one-year “fix” to the payment formula of doctors. This will stop a planned cut in the salaries of physicians in January. It would have made it harder for Medicare patients to get medical care and benefits.

Now, the measure has been passed to the House of Representatives for their expected final approval. As soon as the House of Representatives approve it, U.S. President Barack Obama would clearly sign it into a law. It has been said that the House and the President should pay attention to this as quickly as possible because the pay cut will be made effective on January 1.

According to Nancy LeaMond, the executive vice president for AARP that represents a big number of American elders, more than 80 percent of its members, Democrat, Republican or independent, have greatly shown their concern upon the possible negative effect of Medicare pay cut.

The said bill was made possible in the cooperation of Democratic and Republican Senate leaders as some lawmakers are required to do the last minute actions to complete the legislative work of the current Congress by the end of next week. After next week, a new Congress will have to take over in January, as soon as the Republicans take control of the House.

The one-year pay fix for doctors, costing $15 billion, to treat Medicare and military Tricare patients is going to be paid for by having to change a provision on the excess subsidiary payments in healthcare legislation that was performed this year.

It is said that the government will be able to regain more from the excess payments of insurance subsidy to individuals than that which is provided under the current law. The endorsed change will allow the government to save $19 billion over the next 10 years, as computed by the congressional estimates.

President Obama supported the said legislation but said that it is now time to pass a more permanent and long-term fix in the Medicare payment formula for the doctors. According to the statement by the President, he said that the said agreement is actually an important step in stabilizing Medicare. However, he added that the work is far from finished yet. He said, “For too long, we have confronted this reoccurring problem with temporary fixes and stop-gap measures."

When asked for their side, the doctors said that the payment formula is already outdated and would lead to unreasonable pay cuts, these discouraging physicians to treat Medicare patients. In addition, they said that by changing the formula more long-term deficits should be expected.