Illustration: Gabriella Turrisi/Axios
Congressional Democrats are calling for changes to Medicare Advantage as a way to get savings, rather than cutting Medicaid.
Why it matters: The move highlights the increased scrutiny on Medicare Advantage, even if this specific call is likely to go unheeded as Republicans write their tax bill.
What they're saying: "We urge you to reject cuts to Medicaid, which are deeply unpopular and will rip away health care from millions of Americans," the Democrats wrote in a letter to GOP leaders.
- "Where there is widespread agreement is the need to address waste, fraud, and abuse by private, for-profit insurance companies," the letter adds.
- The letter was led by Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ron Wyden, as well as Reps. Lloyd Doggett and Jan Schakowsky.
- It specifically calls for preventing "upcoding" by insurers in Medicare Advantage, where patients are categorized as sicker to secure higher payments from the government.
The intrigue: CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz called out the practice in his confirmation hearing, highlighting the broader scrutiny from some on both sides of the aisle.
