Medicare Advantage overpayments to hit $76 billion this year| STAT

Bob Herman covers medical insurance, authorities applications, hospitals, physicians, and different suppliers — reporting on how cash influences these companies and shapes what all of us pay for care. He’s additionally the writer of the Well being Care Inc. publication. You’ll be able to attain Bob on Sign at bobjherman.09.

This 12 months, the federal authorities is predicted to pay 14% extra to cowl folks in a Medicare Benefit plan than if those self same folks have been enrolled in conventional Medicare — a $76 billion surplus for medical insurance firms, the Medicare Cost Advisory Fee mentioned in its new annual report launched Thursday.

The group, referred to as MedPAC, is impartial and advises Congress on Medicare. It has routinely highlighted overpayments to Medicare Benefit insurers. And it’s now going through extra pushback from business teams, which try to undermine MedPAC’s credibility and stress the Trump administration to extend this system’s funding.

Lobbying teams supported by insurance coverage firms, such because the Higher Medicare Alliance and the Healthcare Management Council, have criticized MedPAC’s experiences and promoted their very own. They’ve endorsed a latest Wall Avenue Journal editorial that, amongst different issues, referred to as for MedPAC to be defunded. They usually have supported laws that might dictate how the fee’s workers can conduct analysis.