Gag order on Humana But CBO Agrees with Humana
Monday, October 26th, 2009Baucus has called the Humana letter a “scare tactic” meant to distort the current reforms under consideration. The CMS alleges that Humana’s letter may have violated federal regulations, but the information distributed by the health provider was supported by the nonpartisan, independent analysis of the Congressional Budget Office.
Lou Dobbs from CNN adds this:
McConnell Blasts Government Over ‘Gag Order’ on Private Health Care Provider
U.S. health officials launched an investigation into Humana after the Louisville-based company mailed a letter to patients enrolled in its Medicare Advantage plans, alerting them that President Obama’s health overhaul could eliminate important benefits of the program.
The federal government resorted to bullying tactics when it ordered an investigation of Humana — one of the country’s biggest private insurers — for its decision to send customers a letter alerting them about pending health reform legislation, a leading Republican charged Wednesday.
U.S. health officials launched the probe after the Louisville-based company mailed a letter to patients enrolled in its Medicare Advantage plans — private options that replace standard Medicare – warning that President Obama’s health overhaul could eliminate important benefits of the program.
Humana said in its letter that if Medicare Advantage funding gets cut, “millions of seniors and disabled individuals … could lose many of the important benefits and services that make Medicare Advantage health plans so valuable.”
Republican Senate Minority leader Mitch McConnell blasted the investigation of Humana on Wednesday, calling it a “federal gag order” that seeks to silence a health provider that disagrees with the administration. McConnell said he’s called for a complete legal justification of the probe.
Read entire article here.