Lawmakers Introduce Bills to Address Underfunding of Medicare+Choice Program

 

It now seems clear that Congress is hearing the message from members of the Coalition for Medicare Choices.  Days before going home for August recess to face voters at town hall meetings, several members of Congress introduced bills that would address the government’s severe under-funding of the Medicare HMO program.   Now, more than a dozen bills in the House and Senate are designed to help beneficiaries who want the option of joining a Medicare HMO.  The bills include the following (sponsors are in parentheses): 

·        H.R. 2419, the “Medicare+Choice Risk Adjustment Amendments” (Reps. Bilirakis & Deutsch)

·        H.R. 3284, the “Medicare Beneficiaries' Choice Protection Act” (Rep. Pallone)

·        H.R. 4236, the “Seniors Health Choice Preservation Act” (Rep. Foley)

·        H.R. 4937, the “Medicare Protection and Fairness Act” (Rep. Adam Smith)

·        H.R. 4951, the “Medicare Beneficiaries' Choice Stabilization Act” (Rep. Greenwood)

·        H.R. 4968, the “Medicare Equity and Access Act” (Rep. Dunn)

·        H.R. 5001, the “Fair Care for Seniors and Children Act” (Rep. Wilson)

·        H.R. 5039, the “Medicare Choice Preservation Act” (Rep. Hayworth)

·        H.R. 5070, the “Medicare Fairness in Reimbursement Act” (Rep. Minge)

·        H.R. 5099, the “Medicare+Choice Program Improvement Act” (Rep. Tom Udall)

·        S. 2807, the “Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act” (Sens. Breaux & Frist)

·        S. 2905, the “Medicare+Choice Program Improvement Act” (Sen. Bingaman)

·        S. 2937, the “Medicare Geographic Fair Payment Act” (Sens. Domenici & Wyden)

·        S. 2974, the “Medicare Equity and Access Act” (Sen. Gorton)

 

While none of these bills is the perfect solution to the crisis in the Medicare+Choice program, they are all positive steps toward the Coalition’s overall goal of increasing Medicare+Choice funding and stabilizing the program.  When Congress reconvenes in September, the provisions of these bills will receive serious consideration as lawmakers work to develop the Medicare HMO +Choice component of any Medicare payment package that moves through Congress.

 

Looking ahead, it is important for Coalition members to continue to contact both Senate and House members and urge them to provide $15 billion in additional funding to stabilize the Medicare+Choice program.  We need to make sure that the lawmakers who have introduced these bills follow through by passing legislation into law.  By repeatedly emphasizing the need for a commitment of $15 billion in additional funding, we can be the deciding factor in assuring that Congress takes action this year to protect health care choices for Medicare beneficiaries.