Advocates press committee to send message to Congress on Medicare Advantage overpayments
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Summary
Supporters of SJM 8002 urged the legislature to call on Congress to address differences between original Medicare and Medicare Advantage, citing MedPAC estimates of large overpayments to Medicare Advantage plans.
The committee heard testimony on Senate Joint Memorial 8002 urging the federal government to modify Medicare rules to strengthen original Medicare relative to Medicare Advantage. Staff summarized the memorial as requesting elimination of the 20% coinsurance for original Medicare, establishment of out‑of‑pocket protections in Medicare Advantage, and recouping overpayments and fraud to support traditional Medicare.
Senator Hasegawa (sponsor) and labor and senior advocates argued the memorial serves as both a policy statement and an organizing tool to inform federal representatives. Witnesses cited MedPAC figures estimating large projected overpayments by Medicare Advantage plans and urged the committee to send the memorial to Congress. The committee heard from the Washington State Labor Council and the Washington State Senior Citizens Lobby in support; no formal committee action was taken during this hearing.
