House backs one-year delay to doctor pay cuts under Medicare

By Susan Cornwell and Susan Heavey WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. House of Representatives approved legislation on Thursday to avert looming pay cuts for doctors under the government’s Medicare health insurance program for older Americans and the disabled. The measure to postpone the cuts was approved in a voice vote after an earlier delay signaled potential trouble mustering support for the bill, which halts the pay cuts for one year. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Democrat, said the bill would be brought up for a vote in that chamber on Monday, with no opportunity to amend it, meaning that if it passes it will go straight to President Barack Obama to sign into law. The Senate has 100 members.