Medicare cuts to doctors

Congress is once again messing things up with Medicare and seniors.

The Bush administration and Republican-led Congress are headed for a political confrontation with an influential constituency: the 700,000 doctors who treat seniors in the Medicare program and are frantically trying to stave off a planned cut in their fees.

The American Medical Assn. said Thursday that doctors may stop taking seniors as new patients — or even drop out of the program — if the cuts go through. It has launched a nationwide blitz to persuade Congress to rescind a 5.1% cut planned for next year, insisting that lawmakers act before they adjourn in October to campaign for reelection.