Obama Inks Bill Sparing Doctors From Medicare Cuts

President Barack Obama has signed a bill that temporarily spares doctors from a 21 percent cut in Medicare payments.

The measure delays cuts through the end of November while lawmakers work on a more permanent solution.

There was some urgency to approve the $6.5 billion bill. Medicare officials announced last week that the program would begin processing claims it had already received for June at the lower rate.

The money had been part of a larger bill to extend unemployment benefits for laid-off workers and provide states with billions of dollars to avert layoffs. That bill has been blocked by Senate Republicans because of the cost.

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