[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 57 (Wednesday, March 29, 2023)]
[House]
[Page H1540]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 EXPLOITING MEDICARE THROUGH ACO REACH

  (Ms. PORTER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, corporate profiteers have no place in 
Medicare, but some private insurers don't give patients a choice.
  The Biden administration has taken important steps to change the 
direct contracting model, which stripped seniors of traditional 
Medicare and moved them to private coverage--without their consent.
  Its successor program, ACO REACH, still invites private actors to 
exploit Medicare to boost their bottom lines. For-profit insurers can 
pocket taxpayer dollars that they don't spend on their patients. Too 
many have long histories of waste, fraud, and abuse.
  Now, the administration is expanding ACO REACH, including doubling 
its coverage of underserved communities. As a result, millions on 
Medicare may soon face higher costs, smaller provider networks, and 
worse care.
  Strong guardrails are needed now, and I urge my colleagues to stand 
up for patients and get corporate greed out of Medicare.

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