Daines: Biden Administration’s Medicare Advantage Proposals Risk Care Disruptions, Premium Hikes for Montana Seniors

Senator Urges Against Rushed Implementation of Major Medicare Advantage Changes

U.S. SENATE— Senator Daines, along with all Senate Finance Committee Republicans, called on the Biden administration to take steps to prevent adverse outcomes for Montanans who rely on Medicare Advantage (MA) following a recent proposal that includes changes to the diagnostic system for some chronic conditions, including diabetes and congestive heart failure, that could cause disruptions in care and sudden premium increases. 

“As the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) considers options for moving forward on proposed risk adjustment modifications and other policy shifts for MA, we encourage the agency to take steps to maintain program stability, protect beneficiaries from potential disruptions, mitigate unfavorable impacts for seniors, and provide policymakers with transparency and clarity regarding CMS’s decision-making processes…

“We ask the Administration to avoid disruptions in care and sudden premium increases.  We also request additional information on the decision-making processes underlying the CY 2024 Advance Notice for Medicare Advantage by responding to the following questions,” the senators wrote. 

Read the full letter Daines and his colleagues sent to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra and CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure HERE. 

In January, Daines urged the Biden Administration to protect Montanans’ access to the Medicare Advantage Program.