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The lawmakers claim direct contracting is a Trump-era privatization tactic that has removed millions of seniors from Traditional Medicare without their knowledge or consent.
More than 50 lawmakers led by US Representative Pramila Jayapa urged the Biden administration to discontinue the Medicare Direct Contracting (DC) program and transition Medicare beneficiaries into the Traditional Medicare model.
In a letter written to HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra and CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, the lawmakers stated the DC program is a Trump-era privatization tactic. Under the current DC program, private payers and other for-profit companies are authorized to “manage” care for seniors enrolled in Traditional Medicare.
The DC pilot phase enrolled 30 million Traditional Medicare beneficiaries across 38 states without their approval, they added.