Bill > H7430

This resolution respectfully urges the United States Congress and the Department of Health and Human Services to protect patients and Traditional Medicare (TM), the original government-run healthcare program for seniors and individuals with disabilities, from Medicare Advantage (MA) plans, which are private insurance plans that replace TM. The resolution highlights concerns that MA plans, despite receiving higher payments from the government, often provide worse coverage, have narrower networks of doctors and hospitals, require prior authorization for care, and engage in practices like "upcoding" (making patients appear sicker to get more money) and "cherry-picking" healthier enrollees to increase their profits. It also points out that MA plans can trap beneficiaries by limiting their ability to switch back to TM and that employers sometimes force retirees into MA plans. To address these issues, the resolution calls for increased transparency and audits of MA plans, stricter marketing regulations, prohibition of profit-increasing tactics that don't improve care, protection of provider networks, options for employers to offer TM, prosecution of fraud, and redirection of funds from MA plans to strengthen TM.

Health and Social Services

https://status.rilegislature.gov/