BlueCross BlueShield Association Calls For Changes To Proposed Medicare Advantage Cuts, Rep Boehner Criticizes Proposed Limits On Home Oxygen Supplies

Main Category: Medicare / Medicaid / SCHIP
Also Included In: Respiratory / Asthma
Article Date: 26 Mar 2009 - 7:00 PDT

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CQ HealthBeat recently published two articles about Medicare developments. Summaries appear below:

• Medicare Advantage: The BlueCross BlueShield Association on Monday said that MA plan beneficiaries could face significant premium increases next year if President Obama follows through with his proposed cuts to MA plans, CQ HealthBeat reports. Obama has proposed a series of MA plan payment reductions that would take effect in January 2010, and his fiscal year 2010 budget proposal includes additional cuts to the plans that would save $177 billion over 10 years. BCBS called on CMS to revise the payment proposal for 2010, saying that without changes, MA plan beneficiaries could face premium increases or benefit reductions valued at $50 to $80 per month. BCBS Senior Vice President Alissa Fox said, "We recognize that cuts will be made to this program," but the proposed cuts are too extreme. BCBS says it is open to discussing changes to MA plans but has no savings proposals (Adams, CQ HealthBeat, 3/23).
  
  
• Oxygen limits: House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) has joined the home oxygen industry and patients who receive home care in opposing a proposal that would cap Medicare reimbursement for home oxygen supplies, CQ HealthBeat reports. CMS in January announced that it will limit reimbursements to 36 months of treatment. In a letter to acting CMS Administrator Charlene Frizzera, Boehner wrote, "Not only does this policy potentially harm the current care that many Medicare beneficiaries are receiving, but oxygen providers may be forced to make difficult decisions and reduce services that these beneficiaries and their physicians traditionally rely upon" (CQ HealthBeat, 3/23).

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