When Congress slashed federal spending by $13 billion last week, the largest portion was $6.8 billion in costs saved in Medicare, the nation's health-insurance program for the elderly and disabled. Despite the size of the cuts, however, they were more a matter of bitter medicine than of major surgery, with doctors and patients sharing the burden.
The package included a 15-month freeze, starting July 1, 1984, on fees charged by doctors who accept Medicare payments. During that period, any doctor who increases his charges to Medicare patients could be subject to a $2,000 fine. Repeat violators could be disqualified from receiving payments...
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