GOP blocks consideration of Medicare bill

Sens. Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe of Maine, Lisa Murkowsi and Ted Stevens of Alaska, Pat Roberts of Kansas, Elizabeth Dole of North Carolina, Gordon Smith of Oregon, Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania and Norm Coleman of Minnesota.

Grassley said the Democrats' effort was a waste of time and money.

"Congress has 18 days left to make sure doctors serving Medicare patients don't get hit with a Draconian cut that would put them in the position of not being able to serve seniors," Grassley said. "I hope that this failed vote will get us to the negotiating table."

The advocacy group AARP had lobbied in support of Baucus' bill and reminded them they would report the results to their members.

"The bill blocked today would have improved the program's low-income, preventive and mental health benefits without drastic increases in Medicare premiums," said the group's chief executive, Bill Novelli.