[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 158 (Tuesday, September 25, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S6306]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

      By Mr. DAINES (for himself and Mr. King):
  S. 3497. A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to 
eliminate a provision under the Medicare Advantage program that 
inadvertently penalizes Medicare Advantage plans for providing high 
quality care to Medicare beneficiaries; to the Committee on Finance.
  Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, the Medicare Advantage Quality Payment 
Relief Act will protect and enhance Medicare benefits by reversing a 
damaging policy created by the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare.
  Obamacare attempted to provide better benefits for seniors and people 
with disabilities who are enrolled in the highest rated Medicare 
Advantage plans. But Obamacare also inadvertently limited these bonus 
payments from ever reaching beneficiaries by putting a cap on the 
payments, or benchmarks, that these Medicare plans receive. Now, 17,000 
Montanans, and millions of Americans across the country--are being 
denied the full scope of the Medicare benefits that they should be 
receiving.
  I'm glad to join with Senator Angus King of Maine to introduce 
legislation that reverses this ill-advised policy. Our bill protects 
Medicare benefits by removing the damaging limitation on payments to 
Medicare Advantage plans with a 4-star rating or higher. This 
legislation is crucial to ensuring that these top-rated Medicare 
Advantage plans are offered throughout Montana and our country. Nearly 
20% of Medicare beneficiaries in Montana, and one-third of Medicare 
enrollees nationwide, receive their Medicare coverage through Medicare 
Advantage plans.
  I'm pleased that our legislation enjoys strong support from diverse 
stakeholders, and I will continue to champion this issue on behalf of 
seniors and people with disabilities in Montana who rely on Medicare 
Advantage for their Medicare coverage.

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