Illustration: Megan Robinson / Axios
Advocates for Medicare Advantage plans are sharing new polling with Republicans that shows voters don't support proposed billing and payment changes to the system, based on survey details first shared with Axios.
Why it matters: MA advocates are trying to convince Senate Republicans that they'll pay a political price for adding a measure to the reconciliation package that would crack down on "upcoding," or overcharging, in the program.
Driving the news: Senate Republicans are debating whether to add HELP Chair Bill Cassidy's No UPCODE Act, which aims at the practice of classifying patients as sicker to receive higher payments from the federal government.
- The measure could provide billions more in savings and serve as a payfor in the reconciliation bill — but could also prompt charges that the GOP is intent on overhauling private Medicare.
State of play: The Better Medicare Alliance is an MA advocacy group that's been an outspoken opponent of payment and other changes to the MA system in the reconciliation package.
- The group told Axios it's shared the results of this new polling with Hill Republicans, the NRCC and NRSC.
- The polling was conducted by the Winston Group and surveyed 1,000 registered voters, including 800 seniors, from April 28 through May 1.
By the numbers: The poll found that 63% of voters believe a cut to Medicare Advantage is a cut to Medicare generally.
- 45% of voters also opposed the idea of including Medicare Advantage proposals as a pay-for in reconciliation.
- 56% of voters said they would also consider congressional changes to Medicare Advantage payments that result in higher costs or benefit cuts to be a cut to Medicare generally.
- And 72% of voters agreed with the statement that if the federal government cuts funding for MA plans, seniors will face higher premiums and out-of-pocket costs.
Reality check: The polling was commissioned by an advocacy group, with some questions worded to generate a desired response.
- But it remains true that touching Medicare has always been perilous for either party.
- Republicans are already facing attacks over cuts to Medicaid in reconciliation, and some moderates are wary of opening another front by adding Medicare.
What we're watching: Senate Republicans' appetite for the upcoding bill is still evolving, and final decisions on the contours of the reconciliation package should become clearer over the next week.
