Dems target Medicare Advantage changes

Dems target Medicare Advantage changes

April 12, 2014, 01:34 pm

By Elise Viebeck

http://thehill.com/blogs/healthwatch/medicare/203408-dem-bill-targets-mid-year-medicare-advantage-doc-cuts

A new Democratic bill would prevent Medicare Advantage (MA) plans from dropping providers in the middle of the year.

The measure is forthcoming from Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) and responds to UnitedHealth's move to drop thousands of doctors from its MA policies at the end of last year.

"The timing and scale of UnitedHealth Group's provider cuts have been extremely disruptive to patient care and put participants at risk," said DeLauro in a statement.

"Congress has to hold these companies accountable, and make sure they are putting the care of their enrollees ahead of their profits."

Fights over Medicare Advantage are especially hot this year given the issue's relevance in the midterm elections.

Last week, the Obama administration chose to reverse a proposed cut to the program after Republicans indicated they would use the reduction to target vulnerable Democrats.

Medicare Advantage, a privately run alternative to traditional Medicare, is paid more on average per beneficiary by the government.

Democrats and the Obama administration support paring back the program's reimbursements in order to make them more equal with those of regular Medicare.

Republicans and insurers argue the cuts would harm patients and take away popular benefits.

In December, UnitedHealth blamed its decision to narrow MA plan provider networks on "an era of Medicare Advantage funding cuts."

DeLauro's bill, the Medicare Advantage Participant Bill of Rights Act, would require MA plans to finalize their provider lists 60 days before the annual enrollment period.

It would also prohibit the plans from dropping providers in the middle of the year, when policyholders cannot choose new coverage.

Medicare

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Note: Donald M. Berwick was an administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and is a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress.

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Center for American Progress.

George Soros is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations, was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society, and was a supporter for the Center for American Progress.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Center for American Progress, and the Committee for Economic Development.

Ezekiel Emanuel is a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, Rahm I. Emanuel’s brother, and was the health care policy adviser for the Barack Obama administration.

Rahm I. Emanuel is Ezekiel Emanuel’s brother, a friend of Stanley B. Greenberg, a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, the Chicago (IL) mayor, and was the White House chief of staff for the Barack Obama administration.

Stanley B. Greenberg is a friend of Rahm I. Emanuel, and married to Rosa L. DeLauro.

Rosa L. DeLauro is married to Stanley B. Greenberg, and a member of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Tom Daschle is the chairman for the Center for American Progress, was the nominee for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for the Barack Obama administration, an adviser at the UnitedHealth Group Inc., and a 2008 Bilderberg conference participant (think tank).

Gail K. Boudreaux is an EVP for the UnitedHealth Group Inc., and a director at the America's Health Insurance Plans.

Jeannine M. Rivet is an EVP for the UnitedHealth Group Inc., and was a director at the America's Health Insurance Plans.

Lewis G. Sandy is an SVP for the UnitedHealth Group Inc., and was a director at the America's Health Insurance Plans.

Center for American Progress was a funder for the America's Health Insurance Plans.

America's Health Insurance Plans is a major player is the health care debate.

Duberstein Group, Inc. is the lobby firm for the America's Health Insurance Plans.

Kenneth M. Duberstein is the chairman & CEO for the Duberstein Group, Inc., and was a VP for the Committee for Economic Development.

Donna S. Morea was a trustee at the Committee for Economic Development, and the EVP for the CGI Group Inc.

CGI Group Inc. was the Obamacare contractor that developed Healthcare.gov web site.

Obamacare is Barack Obama’s signature policy initiative.