Who says the U.S. Congress can’t get anything done?

“The House on Thursday overwhelmingly voted to repeal automatic payment cuts to doctors under Medicare, endorsing a rare bipartisan deal that Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) negotiated with Democrats,” says The Hill.

“The bill, which passed by a vote of 392-37, puts Congress on the precipice of ending a fight nearly two decades old over a formula known as the sustainable growth rate.”

The Washington Monument.

Cory Lum/Civil Beat

Boehner crafted the deal with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).

The “doc fix” legislation now heads to the Senate, where its fate is less certain. President Obama has expressed support, h0wever.

Rep. Mark Takai of Hawaii, a Democrat who voted for the Medicare bill along with Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, said this in a statement:

“With today’s permanent (Sustainable Growth Rate) fix, we remove the uncertainty that has plagued our kupuna and their doctors, and seniors across the nation will now have access to the healthcare security they deserve. … 

“In addition to the SGR fix this bill would also reauthorize the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Just as healthcare security is important for our elders, it is equally important for our keiki, and reauthorization of CHIP will ensure that the children of our most vulnerable families have continued access to quality care.”