Obama administration eases pain of Medicare cuts

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Obama administration eases pain of Medicare cuts
By RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR
The Associated Press
updated 2 hours 58 minutes ago 2011-04-19T19:48:38

WASHINGTON — Millions of seniors in popular private insurance plans offered through Medicare will be getting a reprieve from some of the most controversial cuts in President Barack Obama's health care law.

In a policy shift critics see as political, the Health and Human Services department has decided to award quality bonuses to hundreds of Medicare Advantage plans rated merely average.

The $6.7 billion infusion could head off service cuts that would have been a headache for Obama and Democrats in next year's elections for the White House and Congress. More than half the roughly 11 million Medicare Advantage enrollees are in plans rated average.

In a recent letter to HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, two prominent GOP lawmakers questioned what they termed the administration's "newfound support" for Medicare Advantage.



Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42666088/ns/health/

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

1. How does this avoid the House appropriation?

[mountainlion55]

2. The usual

Obama always to little to late!

[madamesilverspurs]

3. ppppffftttt....

[freshwest]

4. i join in that raspberry.

[Th1onein]

5. Bullshit.

eom

[boppers]

6. More than half were average?

Uhm, that would be math, no?

"The HHS decision means 4 out of 5 Medicare Advantage enrollees are in plans now eligible for a bonus." So, only one out of five enrollees are in average plans. Everybody else is now in an above average plan.... 80% above average.


Riiiiiiight.