Sabotage of Medicare Advantage Plans

[Editorialist]

I am outraged to learn that Mr. Obama is diverting $8.3 billion in taxpayer funds to mask the debilitating effects on seniors of his ObamaCare legislation just long enough to get re-elected.

With seniors required to pick their Medicare coverage program for next year (beginning Oct. 15), Obama and his administration are scheming to siphon money from the Health and Human Services Department to keep Medicare Advantage floating an additional year.

This gross misuse of taxpayer funds demands a full investigation, I have written Congressman Darrell Isaa who heads the committee that would lead that investigation as well as my other members of Congress and hope you will do the same.

[Ought Six]

Old news. Repubs in Congress are already on the warpath.

http://thisbluemarble.com/showthread.php?t=45761

The health reform law set up a new bonus structure for highly-rated private insurers. The demonstration project widened eligibility for those bonuses.

But the GAO concluded that the program was badly designed and unlikely to provide "meaningful results."

Consequently, GAO said the project should be terminated and that HHS should allow the original Medicare Advantage quality measures under the health reform law to take effect.

Republicans, who have been criticizing the program for months, pounced on the report, accusing the Obama administration of abusing its power. They say the program merely sends extra money to providers to cushion against impending Medicare cuts expected under the new health care law.

Republicans say the program is a political move aimed at keeping seniors happy.

Sen. Orrin Hatch, a Utah Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, said the report calls into question whether HHS even has the authority to launch this program.

White House does not have the authority to green light spending on whatever program it wants," Hatch said in a statement.

The health department disagreed with the criticism and said the agency has no plans to end the program.

It would not hurt, however, to call your Representative and voice your opposition.