Congressional Democrats have criticized the 2007 Medicare handbook sent to all Medicare beneficiaries, claiming that it favors private Medicare Advantage HMO and PPO plans over traditional Medicare fee-for-service, according to The New York Times. The handbook “presents a misleading and biased view of Medicare coverage and options,” the Democrats said last week in a letter to Michael O. Leavitt, Secretary of HHS. The handbook states that Medicare beneficiaries may be able to save money by enrolling in Medicare Advantage plans, which may also include extra benefits, such as glasses, hearing aids, and dental care. In defense of the handbook, the Bush administration said that patients could save more than $100 a month on average by enrolling in private health plans. “Our only goal is to provide information that is accurate, useful and objective,” said Lorraine A. Ryan, a spokeswoman for CMS.
