WASHINGTON (AP) - Members of Congress heading home for the July
Fourth recess can expect to hear from seniors curious about why
Congress allowed a 10 percent cut in fees for doctors who treat
Medicare patients.

Physicians are running ads hinting patients may find doctors
less willing to treat them.

Beginning tomorrow, payments will be cut for some 600,000
doctors who treat Medicare patients. That's because a formula
requires fee cuts when spending exceeds established goals. Almost
every year, Congress blocks the cut.

Lawmakers unwilling to face millions of angry seniors at the
polls in November are expected to act quickly to reverse the cut
when they return to Washington next week. They're also expected to
provide retroactive payments to doctors for losses incurred after
July 1st.

Doctors have complained for years that Medicare payments have
failed to cover rising costs.