Subcommittee explores potential cuts to Medicare Advantage

Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.) recently urged the Obama administration to rollback proposed cuts to Medicare Advantage programs that are outlined in the Affordable Care Act.

Buchanan, a member of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health, said during a subcommittee hearing that the Medicare Advantage cuts could lead to seniors losing their health plans, benefits and the doctors they trust, according to a press release.

“I’m very concerned about these cuts, and the impact it will have on our seniors,” Buchanan said.

The healthcare law requires the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to reduce reimbursements to private health plans, which the Congressional Budget Office anticipates will lead to $300 billion in cuts to Medicare Advantage through 2023, the Hill reports.

Medicare Advantage programs, which cover one third of all Medicare beneficiaries, combine public and private aspects of health insurance to provide enrollees more control over their health care, with a focus on preventative care.

America’s Health Insurance Plans CEO Karen Ignagni previously said cuts to Medicaid Advantage would be “devastating” for the more than 15 million seniors and people with disabilities who use the programs.

Buchanan pushed back on an Obama administration proposal earlier this year to cut funding for Medicare Advantage programs, and he urged the president to work with Congress to avoid the cuts.