By JM Rieger

Ahead of a midnight deadline to fund payments to doctors treating Medicare patients, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell urged the Senate to pass a House-passed fix to the sustainable growth rate payment formula despite concerns from conservatives that the legislation adds to the deficit. “On something like 17 occasions, we’ve gone through these so-called short-term fixes, under which we have largely whacked providers far beyond what I think was appropriate. So yeah, I think like any large bill it’s a mixed bag in some respects, but I think on the whole it’s a bill well-worth supporting. We also need to pass it today and I think most of our members understand that.” The Senate may vote on the House-passed bill tonight.