GAO disputes Medicare cost advantage

Bloomberg News/Minneapolis Star Tribune, February 29, 2008

Health insurers will collect $54 billion more from Medicare than the government would spend providing care directly over the next four years, according to a report from the the Government Accountability Office. A Only 11 percent of the money will go to extra benefits under the Medicare Advantage program, the audit showed. The report has fueled a new political attack by House Democratic leaders concerning Medicare Advantage.