According to a recent article on Politico, federal lawmakers are close to passing legislation that would suspend until 2014 the 21% Medicare Physician Fee Schedule cuts that have been hanging over physicians’ heads since January.  According to the article, under the bill physician payments would increase by 1.3% this year and another 1% in 2011.  In years 2012 and 2013, primary care physicians would get an additional raise equal to the gross domestic product plus 2%.  The House and Senate are expected to vote on the legislation as early as next week.