Senate Dems concerned bipartisan House deal on Medicare doc fees would curb some abortions

A tentative bipartisan House deal to change how Medicare reimburses doctors is running into turbulence in the Senate over abortion.

Some Democratic senators — including Minority Leader Harry Reid — are expressing concern that the House agreement would write restrictions on abortions at community health centers into law. The centers provide medical care for millions of low-income Americans.

There have been abortion curbs at community health centers for years. Senate Democrats say those limitations have been imposed by executive order, not by law.

The Medicare deal between House Speaker John Boehner and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi includes an extra $7 billion for the health centers over two years.

House Democratic aides say the abortion restrictions in the agreement would expire after two years and change nothing from existing curbs.