The board is to vote on final rules in the next few weeks.

The department will then produce the final rules, expected early next year.

Administration officials with knowledge of the discussions said several big changes were all but certain to be in the final rules.

The government will consider the comments and then issue a final rule, with the force of law.

The final rule calls instead for a cut of 3 percent, so Medicare will pay about $11,000.

The final rule calls for a cut of 2 percent, so Medicare will pay about $27,750.

We have yet to see the consultation paper, let alone the final rules.

Officials said they did not know when the final rule would be issued.

The committee must still turn the recommendations into final rules, and changes are possible.

The public, he said, will have several months to comment before the agency issues final rules with the force of law.