Katie Porter: “I would have to oppose the amendment of the gentleman from New Jersey. I know the gentleman is trying to make a point…”

“I would have to oppose the amendment of the gentleman from New Jersey. I know the gentleman is trying to make a point with this amendment and it is a valid point, but I do not think this is the right way to do it. If I understand the amendment correctly, it would shut down any Medicare+Choice health plan in the country for any reason a plan is not in compliance with an audit performed by the Department. This could be something as minor as using an incorrect calculation. I do not think the gentleman intends to start shutting down plans and leaving senior citizens without access to health care, so I would ask the gentleman if he would withdraw the amendment. I would work with him to make this a priority for HCFA and the Inspector General who is actually doing an audit of the plan the gentleman has concerns about right now.”