Congress should crack down on Medicare Advantage health plans for seniors that sometimes deny patients vital medical care while overcharging the government billions of dollars every year, government watchdogs told a House panel this week.
Witnesses sharply criticized the fast-growing health plans at a Tuesday hearing held by the Energy and Commerce subcommittee on oversight and investigations. They cited a slew of critical audits and other reports that described plans denying access to health care, particularly those with high rates of patients who were disenrolled in their last year of life while likely in poor health and in need of more services.
Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Colo., chair of the subcommittee, said seniors should not be “required to jump through numerous hoops” to gain access to health care.
