Lawmakers want to stop plan to reduce Medicare cancer coverage.

Byline: Kevin Murphy

WASHINGTON _ Elderly cancer patients on chemotherapy take some comfort in knowing that most of the time they can be treated at a doctor's office rather than at a hospital.

But that may soon become much less common because the Clinton administration wants to reduce Medicare coverage for cancer drugs given at doctors' offices. According to the administration, doctors pay significantly less for the drugs than what they charge Medicare.

The impending change has upset oncologists and created a flap in Congress, with members from both parties joining in protest. Some lawmakers want to pass a law to derail the Clinton proposal.

"People who are fighting cancer are waging the toughest battle of their lives," said , including Sen. John Ashcroft of Missouri. "They should not be burdened further with the uncertainty of whether they will have access to lifesaving medications."

Members of Congress have waged a letter-writing campaign urging Clinton and Donna…