Senate Democrats Threaten To Block Major House Deal On Medicare

WASHINGTON — Senate Democrats have emerged as a potential stumbling block to a major agreement being finalized by House leaders to enact a permanent "doc fix" and make other significant long-term cuts to Medicare.

Their main gripe: The package only extends the Children's Health Care Program, which helps insure families with kids, for two years once funding expires at the end of September, which they say isn't long enough. Many Democrats want at least a four-year extension.

Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) said a fix for children's health insurance should be done for the same length as a fix for Medicare physician payments, which are poised for a steep 21 percent cut on April 1 under the existing "Sustainable Growth Rate" formula.

"I don't understand why we wouldn't ask for CHIP to be extended at the same length as SGR. I want to help our doctors but I also want to make sure kids keep insurance in my state," he said. "Two years is too short for me. I don't want to be back here debating whether or not kids get insurance two years from now."

Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) told TPM that the two-year extension is "problematic" and said, "I think it should be four."

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