MA plans off hook for now
Washington, D.C.-House legislation that proposed to fund expanded coverage for children by cutting payments to Medicare Advantage (MA) plans was put on hold last month in an effort to reach a speedy compromise for reauthorizing the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). The legislators agreed to adopt the less-costly Senate proposal, which increases tobacco taxes to expand SCHIP into a $60 billion program over five years. The House bill sought $75 billion for SCHIP and proposed to cut payments to MA plans to offset a lower increase in cigarette taxes. Both plans are much more costly than the $30 billion program proposed by the White House.
WASHINGTON, D.C.-House legislation that proposed to fund expanded coverage for children by cutting payments to Medicare Advantage (MA) plans was put on hold last month in an effort to reach a speedy compromise for reauthorizing the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). The legislators agreed to adopt the less-costly Senate proposal, which increases tobacco taxes to expand SCHIP into a $60 billion program over five years. The House bill sought $75 billion for SCHIP and proposed to cut payments to MA plans to offset a lower increase in cigarette taxes. Both plans are much more costly than the $30 billion program proposed by the White House.
Congressional leaders pledged to take up the MA rate cut proposal as part of a separate Medicare reform bill. That legislation also would address the scheduled 10% reduction in Medicare payments to doctors; the cut goes into effect January 1, 2008, unless Congress rescinds it, as the legislators have done in previous years.
Conversations With Perry and Friends
April 14th 2025Perry Cohen, Pharm.D., a longtime member of the Managed Healthcare Executive editorial advisory board, is host of the Conversations with Perry and Friends podcast. His guest this episode is John Baackes, the former CEO of L.A. Care Health Plan.
Listen
Breaking Down Health Plans, HSAs, AI With Paul Fronstin of EBRI
November 19th 2024Featured in this latest episode of Tuning In to the C-Suite podcast is Paul Fronstin, director of health benefits research at EBRI, who shed light on the evolving landscape of health benefits with editors of Managed Healthcare Executive.
Listen
Why Better Data and Awareness Matters for Medicaid Work Requirements
April 17th 2025With policymakers considering work requirements for Medicaid eligibility, Jennifer Haley, principal research associate in the Health Policy Division at the Urban Institute, said it’s more important than ever to understand how those changes could unintentionally cause harm, particularly when data systems fall short and public awareness is limited.
Read More
