In brief: Medicare pay fix for doctors in works

WASHINGTON – In a rare show of unity, top House Republicans and Democrats are working toward an agreement permanently revamping how doctors are paid for treating Medicare patients, a package that lobbyists said would cost $200 billion or more and be largely financed by adding to the federal deficit.

Because of that red ink, some conservatives have already come out against the plan, though others back it. That means House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, could need votes from House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., for the agreement.

Lawmakers and aides have said little about their efforts. But in an unusual joint statement, both parties’ leaders on two House committees – Ways and Means, and Energy and Commerce – said they were holding “active discussions on a bipartisan basis” toward fixing the doctors’ fee formula, strengthening Medicare and financing a popular children’s health program.

The basic elements of the emerging agreement seem generally set, including an end to an 18-year-old formula that has long bedeviled Congress, repeatedly prompting lawmakers to block unrealistically deep cuts in doctors’ Medicare reimbursements.

Without congressional action, the next cut – 21 percent – would begin April 1.

Police sifting clues in officers shooting

CLAYTON, Mo. – Police were still evaluating tips, surveillance video and other evidence Friday as they searched for possible suspects and the motive behind the shooting this week of two police officers in the embattled city of Ferguson.

Officers searched a house and questioned three people Thursday but no arrests were made, St. Louis County police Chief Jon Belmar said at a briefing Friday in the neighboring city of Clayton, another St. Louis suburb.

“I cannot say that an arrest is imminent,” Belmar said, but he added that the trail had not gone cold and investigators were still checking leads.

Three shots were fired early Thursday as police stood facing a crowd of protesters outside the Ferguson Police Department. Two officers were struck, one from St. Louis County police, the other from Webster Groves Police Department.

The motive for the shooting remained unclear, including whether police were the targets.