House Republican leaders mull $174 billion Medicare vote

House Republican leaders are considering a vote next week on legislation that would abolish cuts to Medicare payments, a policy change that could cost upwards of $174 billion to enact.

Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) and his leadership team are quietly coordinating a bill, four sources say, in hopes of ending the decades-long battle over how much doctors and healthcare providers should be paid for treating Medicare patients.

But bringing up the legislation would be a huge gamble because it could spark a revolt among fiscal conservatives who are likely to balk at legislation that adds to the deficit.

A backlash on the right could force Boehner to rely on Democratic votes, once again thrusting House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) into the role of deal-maker.

Read the rest at: http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/235367-house-mulling-permanent-change-to-medicare-payment-formula