Local insurance companies would be much better at deciding how to pay doctors and hospitals to deliver quality care, he said.

Technically, it is illegal to pay doctors for treatment here, federal health officials say.

Under the House proposal, states could use the money to pay doctors and hospitals, rather than to buy insurance.

But in a nation too broke to pay its teachers or doctors, there is little chance the military budget will suddenly rise.

And since 1992, Medicare has used a fee schedule to pay doctors.

Months behind in paying doctors and hospitals, the company is struggling to catch up.

Insurers pay doctors the same no matter how much time they spend.

Of course, there's nothing wrong with paying doctors for doing extra work.

The proceeds, estimated at $650 million a year, are to be used to pay hospitals and doctors who care for people with no health insurance.

The money was largely used to pay school teachers and doctors.