Kagen loses on Medicare Advantage

It was clear at Kagen's second round of listening sessions last summer that he though protecting Medicare Advantage was important to the people of WI-8. He undertook to convince the crowd that he wast trying to do just that, and it was the Democratic leadership that was trying to end or reduce the program.

Then in a September commentary, Kagen said:

Successful programs like Medicare, Medicare Advantage, the Veterans Health Administration and the life-saving SeniorCare plan work, but can be better.

So how did this particular "successful program" fair under the latest House version of healthcare? Not so well:

Sec. 1102. Medicare Advantage payments. Freezes Medicare Advantage payments in 2011. Beginning in 2012, the provision reduces Medicare Advantage benchmarks relative to current levels. Benchmarks will vary from 95% of Medicare spending in high-cost areas to 115% of Medicare spending in low-cost areas. The changes will be phased-in over 3, 5 or 7 years, depending on the level of payment reductions.

I don't know enough about the Medicare Advantage program to say if this particular provision is a good idea or not, but it was clear to me that Kagen wanted to protect this program. It seems he has failed in this attempt.

I wonder if this will be enough for him to vote NO.