Top Democrats signaled their support for “blending” Medicaid payment rates during discussions on raising the federal debt limit.

Under one proposal, the federal government would “blend” payments for Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program into one rate for each state. Currently, the government pays separate matching rates. Providers have been leery about most recent Medicaid fix ideas.

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) confirmed that a proposal to implement “blended” payment rates for Medicaid was “on the table.” In addition, President Obama signaled his approval of blended payments, which would “reward” efficiency, according to a White House spokesman.