Virginia GOP: Election Year Hypocrisy: Mark Warner Suddenly Concerned About Obamacare’s Medicare Advantage Cuts He Repeatedly Supported

RICHMOND, Va., Feb. 20 -- The Virginia Republican Party issued the following news:

In yet another desperate and hypocritical election year-move to distance himself from Obamacare and deceive Virginians, Mark Warner recently co-signed a letter with other fellow vulnerable Senate Democrats blaming the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid for cuts to Medicare Advantage that are mandated by Obamacare:

"We write to raise serious concerns about the Medicare Advantage (MA) 2015 rate notice and the impact further cuts may have on the millions of individuals enrolled in the program. We are strongly committed to preserving the high quality health plan choices and benefits that our constituents receive through the MA program. Given the impact that payment policies could have on our constituents, we ask that you prioritize beneficiaries' experience and minimize disruption in maintaining payment levels for 2015."

Warner is essentially admitting that Medicare Advantage payment levels are being reduced thanks to Obamacare's $200 billion in cuts to the program over the next 10 years - cuts that Warner supported on multiple occasions. Warner had two opportunities to stop the gutting of Medicare Advantage, but he voted to keep the cuts, and voted to pass ObamaCare, which contains the cuts.

"This is more election-year hypocrisy from Mark Warner, who voted to raid Medicare Advantage by $200 billion and cut benefits for seniors to pay for Obamacare," said RPV spokesperson Garren Shipley. "The letter is another example of Warner's willingness to deliberately deceive Virginians and his refusal to take any responsibility for his record. Mark Warner promised that he would be a 'radical centrist' but instead of standing up for Virginia's seniors, he's towed the party line 97 percent of the time at their expense."

BACKGROUND

181,455 Virginians Are Enrolled In Medicare Advantage, But Mark Warner Voted To Protect ObamaCare's Benefit Cuts Twice

* 181,455 Virginians Are Enrolled In A Medicare Advantage Plan As Of June 2013.

(Marsha Gold, Gretchen Jacobson, Anthony Damico, and Tricia Neuman, "Medicare Advantage 2013 Spotlight: Enrollment Market Update," The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, 6/2013)

* Mark Warner Voted Against Protecting Medicare Advantage From Cuts.

(H.R. 3590, Hatch Motion to Commit, Roll Call Vote #362, Rejected 57-41: R 39-0; D 57-2, 12/4/09, Warner Voted Nay)

* Warner Voted Against Protecting Medicare Advantage From Cuts Again In 2010.

(H.R. 4872, Baucus Motion To Table Hatch Motion, Roll Call Vote #72, Agreed To 56-42: R 0-40; D 56-2, 3/24/10, Warner Voted Yea)

The Expected Cuts To Medicare Advantage Would Significantly Disadvantage Seniors

The Centers For Medicare And Medicaid Services Are Expected To Announce Medicare Advantage Rate Cuts By As Much As 6-7 Percent.

"As early as this week, CMS is expected to release preliminary Medicare Advantage payment rates for 2015 that insurers have estimated could reduce payments by as much as 6 percent to 7 percent next year." (Mary Agnes Carey, "Bipartisan Group Of Senators Concerned About Medicare Advantage Cuts," Kaiser Health News, 2/18/14)

Rate Cuts Of That Magnitude Could Cause Premium Increases And/Or Benefit Reductions

"Insurers and other Medicare Advantage proponents say cuts of that magnitude could cause premium increases and benefit reductions." (Mary Agnes Carey, "Bipartisan Group Of Senators Concerned About Medicare Advantage Cuts," Kaiser Health News, 2/18/14)

"'Seniors Cannot Afford Another Round Of Rate Cuts To Their Medicare Advantage Coverage,' Said AHIP President And CEO Karen Ignagni In A Release. 'CMS Should Protect Seniors In The Program By Maintaining Current Payment Levels Next Year.'" (Mary Agnes Carey, "Bipartisan Group Of Senators Concerned About Medicare Advantage Cuts," Kaiser Health News, 2/18/14)

"Over 14 Million Beneficiaries-28 Percent Of The Medicare Population- Are Enrolled In A Medicare Advantage Plan In 2013." (Marsha Gold, Gretchen Jacobson, Anthony Damico, and Tricia Neuman, "Medicare Advantage 2013 Spotlight: Enrollment Market Update," The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, 6/2013)

"Total Enrollment In 2013 Grew By More Than 1 Million, Or 9.7 Percent, Between 2012 And 2013, And By 3.3 Million (30%) Since 2010." (Marsha Gold, Gretchen Jacobson, Anthony Damico, and Tricia Neuman, "Medicare Advantage 2013 Spotlight: Enrollment Market Update," The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, 6/2013)

Warner Voted In Favor Of ObamaCare, Which Contained The Cuts To Medicare Advantage

* Obamacare Cuts Medicare Advantage By $200 Billion Over The Next 10 Years.

"ObamaCare enacted $200 billion in cuts to Medicare Advantage over 10 years..." (Russell Berman, "GOP hits Obama on Medicare Advantage," The Hill, 2/13/14)

* 526,000 Seniors Have Lost Their Current Medicare Advantage Plans Because Of Obamacare. "Some 526,000 seniors - 5% of Medicare Advantage enrollees - are losing access to plans they had this year, according to a report this week from the Kaiser Family Foundation. They will need either to pick another private plan or rejoin the old Medicare program. (John Merline, "ObamaCare Cuts Bite Medicare Advantage," Investor's Business Daily, 11/26/13)

* Seniors Are Losing Their Doctors And Have Access To Fewer Plans "Benefits experts say patients are seeing fewer plan choices this year, and more are losing doctors from their insurance coverage networks." (Tom Murphy, "4 Keys To Scrutinizing Medicare Advantage Cuts," Associated Press, 11/15/13)* The Obama Administration Was Fully Aware That Obamacare Would Cause Seniors To Lose Access To Medicare Advantage. "Whether the spending cuts are justified or not, the administration knew they would cause seniors to lose access to Medicare Advantage plans they liked - even as Obama was promising the public that wouldn't happen." (John Merline, "ObamaCare Cuts Bite Medicare Advantage," Investor's Business Daily, 11/26/13)

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