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Guthrie & Murphy Lead Letter Opposing Proposed Cuts to Medicare Advantage Program
Washington, DC,
March 12, 2015
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Health Care
Today, Congressmen Brett Guthrie (KY-02) and Patrick E. Murphy (D-FL) sent a letter to the Acting Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to express concern about proposed payment changes to the Medicare Advantage program. The letter included the signatures of 239 Members of Congress – more than half of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Washington, DC – Today, Congressmen Brett Guthrie (KY-02) and Patrick E. Murphy (D-FL) sent a letter to the Acting Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to express concern about proposed payment changes to the Medicare Advantage program. The letter included the signatures of 239 Members of Congress – more than half of the U.S. House of Representatives. According to America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), more than 16 million Americans are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan. Last month, CMS proposed additional payment cuts for 2016, which follows deep cuts the previous two years. To date, these cuts have impacted more than one million seniors. Should these additional cuts come to fruition, the total cuts could lead to plans exiting markets, limitations in service areas, reduced benefits, and the loss of provider choices. The letter led by Congressmen Guthrie and Murphy highlights why Medicare Advantage plans are popular choices for our nation’s seniors. The plans place “an emphasis on improving health outcomes through innovative programs that emphasize preventative care, offer care coordination and disease management to help manage chronic conditions, and promptly treat medical conditions before they advance to a more serious stage.” “These recent cuts have impacted seniors across all 50 states,” said Congressman Guthrie. “Medicare Advantage plans provide critical services and additional cuts could limit millions of seniors’ access to the quality, affordable health care they have chosen. I am proud of the overwhelming bipartisan support we have received to join us in asking that CMS look to pursue avenues to stabilize funding and ensure that MA beneficiaries are protected.” “More than 16 million Americans depend on Medicare Advantage, including 1.5 million Floridians,” said Congressman Murphy. “Further cuts to this important program could limit health care options and deprive beneficiaries of the services they need. The seniors I represent cannot afford higher out of pocket costs and slashed benefits. For the first time, a bipartisan majority of House members are taking a stand to protect seniors on Medicare Advantage, and I am hopeful that CMS will take the appropriate steps to avoid benefit cuts.” You can view a copy of the letter to CMS Acting Administrator Andy Slavitt HERE.
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