Medicare Update: List of Lawmakers Pushing for Major Changes via New Bill
Summary
A group of House Democrats has introduced the Save MEDICARE Act of 2026 to change how Medicare Advantage plans are paid and monitored. The bill aims to stop overpayments to private insurers and strengthen Medicare’s financial health.Key Facts
- The bill is called the Save MEDICARE Act of 2026 (H.R. 9544) and was introduced by Representative Lloyd Doggett from Texas.
- Medicare Advantage plans are private insurance options that now cover about half of Medicare beneficiaries.
- Lawmakers say Medicare Advantage plans receive billions of dollars in excessive payments, costing taxpayers more than traditional Medicare.
- The bill proposes excluding certain diagnosis codes that lead to inflated payments to Medicare Advantage plans.
- It wants to speed up audits and increase efforts to recover overpaid money.
- The bill would give states more power to enforce Medicare Advantage rules.
- It also requires Medicare Advantage and Part D plans to pay the Department of Veterans Affairs for services given to veterans.
- The bill may not affect Medicare beneficiaries immediately but aims to save money that could improve Medicare benefits like dental, vision, and hearing coverage.
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