Obama signs bill to temporarily spare doctors from 21 percent cut in Medicare payments

more images

more images

Obama inks bill sparing doctors from Medicare cuts

WASHINGTON — 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.