Curbing Medicare Advantage Overpayments Would Strengthen Medicare

Publication Date: December 2007

Publisher: Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (Washington, D.C.)

Author(s):

Research Area: Health

Type: Report

Abstract:

The Senate Finance Committee is planning to consider Medicare legislation averting a scheduled cut in Medicare physician payments. The legislation is also expected to modestly reduce the sizable overpayments now being made to private insurance plans that participate in the Medicare Advantage program. “Leveling the playing field” in payments between Medicare Advantage and traditional Medicare would be a sound move for Congress to take before its year-end recess, for several reasons.