After two decades of playing hide-and-seek with reforming the way doctors are paid by Medicare, the Senate passed a House bill that would change the fee-based system of paying for medical care and prevent a big cut in payments to doctors. In essence, the $214-billion initiative would replace a 1990s formula that linked Medicare doctors' reimbursements to economic growth with a new formula more focused on favorable outcomes for patients. The fee-based billing of Medicare would not be junked entirely, but the bill represents the first major reform of an entitlement in 20 years. The Hill: The rare bipartisan bill, which passed 92-8, marks one of the biggest achievements yet from the newly GOP-controlled Congress. It will now head to President Obama, who has promised to sign the bill.   Obama praised the doc fix bill and said he "will be proud to sign it into law."   "It’s a milestone for physicians, and for the seniors...(Read Full Post)