The "doc-fix" is among Washington's most frequent, most frustrating and most confusing policy battles.
For a decade now, the formula that supposedly sets Medicare's budget has returned results that fall far short of the program's actual costs. So every year, Congress passes legislation to make up the difference — often after a drawn-out fight. Legislators work up through the Christmas holidays, doctor payments get delayed and patients get nervous. But without fail, a short-term doc-fix always passes. Then it runs out, a year or so later, and Washington goes through the same policy dance all over again.
