A few bad apples could hurt the entire Medicare Advantage program.
Kerry Weems, acting administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, delivered that message here Monday at a Medicare and Medicaid conference organized by America's Health Insurance Plans, Washington.
Private insurers have been partners in successful CMS efforts to launch the Medicare Advantage program and the Medicare Part D prescription drug program, Weems said.
But "CMS is not the only government entity that will be stepping up oversight" of the Medicare Advantage program in the wake of reports of marketing problems, Weems said.
"The Congress is watching," Weems affirmed. "Unless these marketing abuses are nipped in the bud, congressional and public sentiment could easily turn against the entire Medicare Advantage program."
CMS officials are glad that they were able to let the 7 Medicare Advantage carriers that voluntarily suspended sales in June resume selling coverage, Weems said.
