Bill > H5434

This resolution urges the United States Congress to protect patients and Traditional Medicare (TM) from Medicare Advantage (MA) plans by addressing systemic issues in the Medicare program. The resolution highlights that while MA plans, which cover 54% of Medicare beneficiaries in 2024, are marketed as attractive alternatives to Traditional Medicare, they often provide inferior coverage and prioritize corporate profits over patient care. Key concerns include MA plans' tendency to "cherry-pick" healthier enrollees, use deceptive marketing practices, impose narrow provider networks, require burdensome prior authorizations, and engage in practices like "upcoding" to increase reimbursements. The resolution calls on federal legislators and government agencies to take specific actions, such as mandating transparency in MA plan operations, conducting more audits to identify fraud, strictly regulating MA marketing, prohibiting practices that increase profits without improving healthcare services, and redirecting funds currently going to MA plans back into Traditional Medicare. Additionally, the resolution requests that Rhode Island's congressional delegation support legislation and administrative actions to protect Medicare beneficiaries and urges the transmission of the resolution to relevant congressional officials.

Health and Social Services

https://status.rilegislature.gov/