In another attempt to silence legitimate criticism and stifle debate about President Obama’s Health Care Reform, the Health and Human Services Department (HHS) who oversees The federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have launched an investigation into one of the nations largest insurers serving seniors under the Medicare Advantage program at present Humana has about 1.4 million Medicare Advantage enrollees which accounts for close to half of the company’s annual revenue, according to one spokesmen.
The controversy started due to Sen. Max Baucus’ objection to what he called “scare tactics” being employed by insurance companies in what he viewed as misleading seniors.
Announcing the investigation Monday Baucus said; “It is wholly unacceptable for insurance companies to mislead seniors regarding any subject — particularly on a subject as important to them, and to the nation, as health care reform,”
TMR contacted Humana’s Corporate Media Relations person Jim Turner who supplied us with the following statement:
Humana is cooperating with CMS to resolve this matter. We reviewed CMS guidance and believe these informational and educational materials did not require a filing with the agency. Humana supports health reforms that guarantee coverage for everyone and don’t require people with pre-existing conditions to pay higher premiums. We also believe Medicare Advantage members deserve to know the impact that funding cuts of the magnitude being discussed would have on benefits and premiums.The Partners website has been taken down and there have been no Partners mailings since Sept. 11.
The Obama administration also warned insurance companies Monday that possible legal action may be taken for “misleading” or “scaring” seniors about potential loss of benefits or cuts to Medicare under the legislation being considered by Congress.
House Reoublican Leader John Beohner made this statement about what he sees as a “Gag Order” from the White House on insurers
“It is outrageous that the Obama Administration is trying to keep seniors in the dark about the consequences of congressional Democrats’ costly government-run health care bills. Would the Administration impose this sort of gag order if seniors were being given information promoting the Obama health care plan? I don’t think so. Seniors have a right to know about the cost and consequences of the Democrats’ health care bills, and Republicans will continue to tell the American people the facts about the nearly $500 billion in Medicare cuts that Democrats are proposing.”
After reading the Humana Mailer below, TMR and almost everyone I’ve talked to about this issue agrees, there is nothing at all wrong or illegal about it. In fact, the mailer is 100% accurate in telling seniors that the current legislation in Congress cuts Medicare and specifically cuts Medicare Advantage.
McConnell On Health Care Debate: “Shut Up! The Government Says”
According to the House Republican Leaders Office John Boehner agrees that the House Democrat Health Care Bill contains $172 Billion in Medicare Advantage Cuts!
One of the leading health care reform myths and misstatements perpetuated by President Obama is his pledge to protect Medicare. House Democrats’ costly government-run health care bill (H.R. 3200) imposes drastic cuts on Medicare Advantage (MA), which currently meets the needs of nearly 11 million seniors nationwide. Various analyses have found – and Democratic lawmakers have stated – these drastic cuts would lead to higher out-of-pocket costs, reduced benefits and fewer health care choices for our seniors. Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) put it more plainly when he said earlier this year, “Medicare Advantage is gone.”
“Once again, the President’s rhetoric fails to match the reality of Democrats’ costly government takeover of health care. Democrats’ drastic cuts to Medicare Advantage would leave seniors with a reduced quality of care and fewer health care choices. The President should come clean and tell America’s seniors the truth about these drastic cuts. It’s time to hit the reset button and start over on a bipartisan plan that makes health care more affordable for our seniors without cutting their benefits or restricting their choices.”
According to an analysis by the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation, 32% of the $538.5 billion in Medicare cuts imposed by House Democrats in Section 1161 of their health care bill (H.R. 3200) are to Medicare Advantage. That amounts to $172 billion in cuts to the Medicare Advantage program.
“Probable” That Seniors “Would Indeed Need To … Change Plans.” FactCheck.org found that under H.R. 3200, “it’s probable that some unknown number of the 22 percent of seniors, or more than 10 million individuals, who participate in Medicare Advantage programs would indeed need to pay more out of pocket, change plans or face reduced benefits…”
Six Million Seniors Denied Access. Today, nearly 11 million seniors nationwide choose Medicare Advantage (MA) plans as the coverage that best meet their needs. An analysis completed by Republicans on the House Ways & Means Committee found that 6 million seniors will be denied access to an affordable MA plan under H.R. 3200, including 3 million who will lose the plan they currently have.
Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV put it more succinctly when he said earlier this year: “Medicare Advantage is gone.” (The Hill, 1/21/09)
President Obama: “No, these folks are going to be able to get Medicare that is just as good…” (ABC’s This Week, 9/20/09)
Democrats: “Higher Premiums and Reductions in Procedures.” “Cuts to Medicare Advantage would likely mean higher premiums and reductions in procedures covered by the plan, [Rep. Earl] Blumenauer [D-OR] said.” (The Oregonian, 7/20/09)
Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) said last week: “I think it would be intolerable to ask the senior citizens on Medicare who have [Medicare Advantage] to give up substantial health benefits that they’re enjoying under Medicare.” (Floor Remarks, 9/16/09)
Additionally, a recent study shows that, when compared to seniors enrolled in traditional Medicare and adjusted for health risk, seniors in MA spend fewer days in the hospital, are less likely to be re-hospitalized, and have fewer preventable readmissions. (AHIP Center for Policy and Research)
Humana Mailer -
It’s clear that this is a blatant attempt, by the White House, to hide the facts about Medicare Advantage cuts and the cuts to Medicare in general. Just today the CBO backed up the claims by Republicans that Medicare would be cut and that said cuts would greatly impact and could reduce the generous benefits many enrollees enjoy.
On seniors, Republicans contended that some $500 billion in cuts to Medicare providers over a decade to pay for the bill would surely reduce patients’ benefits. That’s something Obama has repeatedly denied, though he was contradicted on the point by the head of the Congressional Budget Office Tuesday.
Budget Director Douglas Elmendorf said the cuts could reduce the generous benefits that the seniors in Medicare’s private managed care plans enjoy.
GOP senators pushed amendments Wednesday meant to block the bill’s proposed changes to Medicare.
Don’t let them stifle or silence this incredibly important debate, call the White House and your representatives in both House’s NOW and voice your opposition to the bills and the tactics this administration is taking in order to hide the truth from the American people!
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