Vern Buchanan Looks to Stop Medicare Cuts to Fund Obamacare

Noting that 54,000 seniors in Manatee and Sarasota counties are covered in Medicare Advantage, U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla, wrote to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Marilyn Tavenner on Tuesday. The Obama administration revealed last week that Medicare Advantage funds would be used to cover the costs of President Barack Obamas federal health-care law. Buchanans letter reads as follows:

I am writing to express serious concerns about the administrations new proposal to cut funding for Medicare Advantage health plans that serve more than 54,000 seniors in my congressional district.

Medicare Advantage programs are widely praised for offering preventative and disease management services superior to other health plans in the Medicare fee-for-service program. These popular policies offer a competitive choice to seniors as well as saving beneficiaries out-of-pocket expenses.

The administrations recent announcement that private Medicare plans face deep cuts in 2015 could be devastating to seniors who will now be at risk of losing their plans, benefits and doctors they trust. This is unacceptable.

At a time when families, workers, and employers are finding it difficult to navigate the intricacies of the new health-care law -- seniors should not be forced to part ways with existing policies they like and want to keep. On behalf of the millions of seniors across the country who are enrolled in Medicare Advantage, I urge the administration to work with Congress to protect this vital program and honor our commitment to Americas seniors.