Last August, Washington Post columnist Michelle Singletary observed that Congress is “so divided that members might struggle to agree the sky is blue on a sunny day.”
A June 2021 poll from Georgetown University’s Institute of Politics and Public Service seemingly backs up that claim. Voters now rate “division in the country” as the most important issue facing them personally.
It’s easy to understand why. Lawmakers have found themselves deadlocked in recent months on everything from legislation regarding voting rights to President Biden’s Build Back Better agenda.
However, Congress proved bipartisan action is still possible on healthcare.
In late January, 346 members of the U.S. House of Representatives—80% of the chamber – signed a bipartisan letter to the Biden administration supporting Medicare Advantage, the Medicare option now chosen by more than 28.5 million Americans.
Read: 5 popular financial rules you may want to ditch
The letter, organized by Reps. Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.), Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.), Tony Cárdenas (D-Calif.), and Mike Kelly (R-Pa.), drew cosigners from 47 states including passionate progressives, Tea Party Republicans, and everything in between. The lawmakers set a new record in the process; topping 2020’s count of 339 members of the House who announced support for Medicare Advantage.
This is more than symbolic. The letter comes amid the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ annual Medicare Advantage rate-setting process – in which the agency can make sweeping decisions about funding for seniors’ Medicare Advantage coverage.
The signers express the firm view of a supermajority of the House that the agency should “provide a stable rate and policy environment that ensure Medicare Advantage can continue to provide the affordable, high-quality, patient-centered coverage our constituents rely on every day.”
Lest anyone doubt their seriousness, the lawmakers add that they are “ready to protect” Medicare Advantage “from policies that would undermine [its] stability or the health outcomes of enrollees.”
At a time when Washington can agree on very little, we are right to ask how Medicare Advantage defies the odds and garners such widespread support. One possibility: members of Congress still recognize what works and listen to their seniors.
Medicare Advantage draws satisfaction from 9 in 10 beneficiaries, according to a December 2021 Morning Consult poll – approval ratings any politician would envy – and research shows that it saves consumers an average of $1,640 a year. That’s enough for both political parties to find something worth celebrating.
Democrats eager to invest in new health benefits for seniors can appreciate that vision, hearing, dental, telehealth, and fitness coverage are nearly ubiquitous in Medicare Advantage already – with benefits like meal delivery and transportation to medical appointments also on the rise.
Fiscal hawk Republicans can be pleased to know that, despite that, the government still spends less money per beneficiary in Medicare Advantage than it does on similar beneficiaries in fee-for-service (sometimes called “Original”) Medicare.
And members of both parties know that the millions of seniors enrolled in Medicare Advantage are a powerful voting bloc, with polling showing that 76% of beneficiaries are less likely to vote for a lawmaker who fails to support the program.
As the Biden administration continues to roll out its policies for Medicare Advantage, early signs show a willingness to listen to the concerns of these bipartisan lawmakers and the seniors they represent.
Just days ago, the administration’s Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued its preliminary payment plans for Medicare Advantage in 2023, known as the “Advance Notice.”
The agency’s proposal delivers stability and predictability for seniors’ Medicare Advantage coverage; ensuring the program remains equipped with the tools to care for its rapidly growing beneficiary population, while also seeking feedback on reforms to accelerate health equity.
While the proposal will likely not be finalized until early April, seniors can be encouraged to know that administration leaders are on track to “safeguard Medicare Advantage so that it remains a strong, successful program,” just as they said.
This much is certain: 346 bipartisan Members of Congress – and 28.5 million Medicare Advantage beneficiaries nationwide – are grateful for that continued support.
Mary Beth Donahue is the president and CEO of the Better Medicare Alliance and former chief of staff at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services during the Clinton administration.
This post was originally published on Market Watch
