Medicare Cut Averted In Nick Of Time

WASHINGTON -- Just in time for the holidays, Congress voted Friday morning to pass a payroll tax cut extension bill that also would postpone Medicare cuts for doctors, ending the political standoff that threatened to cut reimbursements to physicians by 27 percent.

 The Senate and the House of Representatives both passed the bill by unanimous consent Saturday morning, with no opposition. The bill -- which would extend a payroll tax break, unemployment benefits, and postpone the Medicare cut scheduled to take effect Jan. 1 -- now goes to the president for his signature.

More