But…if we cut doctor reimbursements, won’t fewer doctors be willing to do the work?

And won’t that then lead to waiting lists, or even patients unable to find a doctor? Unable to get the medical care they need?

I thought government-run health care was the solution!

The Senate adjourned Thursday evening without voting to prevent a 21.3 percent cut to the payments doctors receive under Medicare. The payment is scheduled to take effect June 1.

A 21.3% cut in payments, from a program that already underpays, and requires a boondoggle of paperwork.

Now: the cut might not take place.

The federal agency that oversees Medicare is asking its contractors to postpone for 10 days processing claims for services provided on or after June 1. The move is intended to give lawmakers time to retroactively freeze the rate cut.

They’ve done that before. But:

If the House and Senate approve the House language, lawmakers would have to tackle the problem all over again in 2012, at which point physicians would face a 33 percent cut.

So be good, all you physicians. Don’t piss us off, or make us look bad. Don’t you go badmouthing our pet legislation. Or, y’know, else.

More at Right Wing News.