(From PoliticalNews.me)
Washington, DC – House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee Chairman Pete Stark (D-CA), along with House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Sander Levin (D-MI), Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT), House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), Senate Finance Health Subcommittee Chairman Jay Rockefeller (D-WV), and House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-N.J.), yesterday wrote Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius urging her to closely review Medicare Advantage plan bids for 2011.
The congressional leaders encouraged the Secretary to require private insurance companies to justify any proposed changes in premiums or benefits for seniors in Medicare Advantage plans. The leaders also asked the Secretary to use the authority given to her by the recently passed health reform law, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, to protect seniors from unwarranted rate hikes and high out-of-pocket costs.
“Insurers have been reaping huge profits at the expense of Medicare beneficiaries and taxpayers,” said Stark. “Health reform trimmed gross overpayments from the Medicare Advantage program. CMS must carefully police these insurers to make sure they don't continue bilking seniors to pad their profit margins.”
“Health reform takes critical steps toward ensuring the integrity of Medicare by arming CMS with the tools they need to protect beneficiaries from abusive insurance company practices,” said Levin. “CMS must now use these tools and remain vigilant so that Medicare beneficiaries have someone fighting in their corner.”
“Health care reform strengthened Medicare and made Medicare Advantage more competitive, but it is critical that we don’t let private insurance companies use these changes as an excuse to raise premiums or cut benefits for seniors to bolster their own bottom line,” said Baucus. “The Affordable Care Act gave the Secretary new authority to crack down on private insurance companies that take advantage of the Medicare Advantage program and I’m confident she will use it protect seniors’ benefits.”
“Seniors on fixed incomes shouldn’t be subjected to exorbitant health care premium increases,” said Rockefeller. “The Federal Government must continue to crack down on the unscrupulous practices of private health insurers.”
“Medicare plays a critically important role insuring that millions of Americans receive the health care they need,” said Waxman. “Today we are encouraging the Administration to take a critical look at the Medicare Advantage plans’ bids for 2011 to insure that taxpayer funds are spent wisely.”
“Thanks to the Affordable Health Care Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services will have the power she needs to properly monitor Medicare Advantage plans during the bidding process,” said Pallone. “I urge her to use her new authority to carefully review the bids being submitted by Medicare Advantage plans to make sure that they are in the best interest of America’s seniors.”
Stark, Baucus, Levin, Waxman, and Pallone all worked to draft and pass the Affordable Care Act in March of this year.
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Gathering Storm
Limo Divers Protest Medicare Mediciad Reform Cuts, It's rumored this issue could become part of the Tea Party movement. AmeriChoice Health also rumored to take a position on this issue. Recirculate those tax dollars? Help keep limo drivers working, benefits flowing and overpaid tax dollars remain in abuse.
Medicare.gov as well as other Federal agency's encourage you to report any fraudulent activities, yet, the same government agency's were notified the way this company does business yet did nothing. Three years ago they were reported to these Federal agency's and as of todays date not only were they allowed to continue doing business but were never charged once. Protected vendor status sure, politics sure, limited government budgets sure, Federal and State officals looking the other way sure, and rather then stop these activities a strong desire not to rock the boat previals. Even with the vast changes in the laws, budgets,a hands off policy remains, you tell me what's wrong with this picture?
The Government created this monster and now they don't know what to do about it, like shooting yourself in your own foot etc. Tons of money to advance their national growth, it's market positions, tons of money for political donations, tons of money to send 75 millIon back to its home office from New York state alone, tons of money to suppot National TV shows, tons of money to pay hugh State fines, tons of money to hire the very best law firms, tons of money to pay for bribes and kickbacks, tons of money for hugh salary's and bonuses, all done on the back of the American tax payor, you see this company receives all it's money from the Federal government. Should your tax dollars be held to a higher standard? Should our government agency's responsible for there review and be held to that same standard? Should the IRS audit their corruption? Why has this company not been charged? How long can the buck be passed here in more ways then one?
Hey, it's your tax dollars don't complain now.. then don't complain later on…
ps… I know times are tough for a lot us, but it would be great to have a free limo to go to the Doctors, Pharmacy, Movies, Grocery shopping, and given free tickets for the movies. Offered soda, pop corn and hotdogs, as well as have them receive free coupons for Grocery items…Kind of makes you wish qualified for Medicare and Mediciad right?
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