Max Baucus: “on April 11, the Finance Committee is going to be holding a hearing on Medicare Advantage plans and other providers'…”

“on April 11, the Finance Committee is going to be holding a hearing on Medicare Advantage plans and other providers' plans that affect Medicare. We want to do this right. We want to do this in a very thoughtful, considerate way. There are Medicare Advantage plans that are doing a lot of good work. That is clear. Certainly, the Finance Committee, of which Senator Hatch is a member--and we have the April 11 hearing--is going to deal with this issue. I urge Members to do this the right way, and the right way is to figure out what to do generally with all Medicare providers, including managed care. Again, there are managed care companies that are very good and provide benefits for seniors. Dental has already been mentioned by the good Senator from Utah. The more thoughtful way is to not hamstring the committee by preventing the committee from making any changes to these programs. Rather, let's be thoughtful, flexible. I urge Members not to approve this amendment.”