Some of you may have wondered what Ezra Klein was talking about yesterday when he wrote,
People can argue over whether we should protect Medicare Advantage's overpayments or not. But it's important to note that Medicare Advantage is not part of the promise of Medicare.
While I'm delighted that Klein focused on our little corner of nuttiness in Florida, maybe a little more information is in order, thanks to a St. Pete Times story on the issue.
Here's the issue in a nutshell:
[Nelson's Finance Committee] amendment to grandfather in existing beneficiaries [of Medicare Advantage] was postponed after a brief but spirited discussion and could come up for a vote today.
It's a white knight appeal to a group of reliable voters, many of whom were urged to contact Nelson by a large Medicare Advantage provider, Humana. But the proposal puts Nelson at odds with other Democrats, who say Medicare Advantage costs have compounded the nation's health care woes.
What "other Democrats"? Among others, Florida Representative Kathy Castor:
"This is a very important correction for anyone who cares about Medicare and older Floridians," said U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Tampa. "Ultimately, with the budget deficit that we have in this country, there is absolutely no reason to be subsidizing private health insurance companies."
And Florida Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz:
"I'm concerned that the Medicare Advantage program right now is very lopsided and really only providing a windfall to insurance companies," said U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Weston.
So why is Nelson posturing in this way? It isn't to benefit the uninsured:
Nearly 21 percent of Floridians lack coverage, according to census figures released this week.
Still, older Americans have always been an influential and well-cared-for constituency, particularly in Florida, which has about 919,000 people in Medicare Advantage plans.
Nelson's office has been bombarded with phone calls and e-mails from worried seniors.
But the outcry was partly stirred by Humana, which sent mailers warning about drastic cuts. This week, the Obama administration deemed the mailers "misleading" and threatened to take action if they continue. Humana has stopped.
But the damage is done. The especially nutty part of this is the cost -- if Nelson's amendment makes its way into the bill, something else will have to be cut to satisfy other conservative Democrats. So I hope Nelson is just posturing.