Some House Dems back independent Medicare rate setter

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama has won the support of an influential group of conservative Democrats for a plan to empower a proposed independent agency to set doctor and hospital payments under Medicare, a source familiar with the talks said on Wednesday.

The fiscally conservative "Blue Dog Democrats" have in concept backed the proposal, which would take much power away from lawmakers and give it to an executive agency to set annual Medicare payment rates for medical services, the source said.

The details on cost still need to be worked out.

The Blue Dogs have stalled the healthcare effort in the U.S. House of Representatives with concerns over costs and have won the ear of Obama, who met with some of them at the White House on Tuesday.

The source also said the group is "a ways away" from support of the House bill.

Medicare if the government health program for the elderly.