Katie Porter: “Corporate profiteers have no place in Medicare, but some private insurers don't give patients a choice. The Biden…”

“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. ____________________”