U.S. proposes 0.25 percent hike in Medicare Advantage paymentsNEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. government on Wednesday proposed an increase of 0.25 percent on average in payments to health insurers who offer Medicare Advantage insurance, which provides health benefits to more than 18 million elderly or disabled people. Enrollment in these plans grew by about 7 percent last year to account for about one-third of Medicare members, making it an important growth business for private insurers who are facing changes in their business as Republicans seek to repeal and replace Obamacare. It is not clear if Republicans will make any broad changes to the Medicare Advantage program, or to Medicare. Ipsita Smolinski, managing director at Capitol Street in Washington D.C. said on Wednesday that Medicare Advantage could get a boost amid the Republican push for private programs.  The payment rate increase of 25 basis points was in line with estimates that analysts had released ahead of time and shares of insurers including UnitedHealth Group Inc and Humana Inc, two of the largest providers of these plans, were little changed in after-hours trading. JPMorgan’s Gary Taylor said in a research note last week that he had been expecting a proposal for payments that were flat to slightly up from the rate that the government is now paying insurers who provide plans. Last year, the government proposed an increase of about 1.35 percent but later trimmed that back about 50 basis points. But insurers have 30 days to respond to the proposed payment rates and other changes included in the regulatory notice, which this year was 159 pages long, and may ask for a bigger increase.  “The 2018 update is only a smidge better than flat which I suspect may anger some plans,” Smolinski said. She said she expected that the payment rate could rise between now and when final rates are set. Insurers use the payment rate information provided by the government to prepare bids to sell Medicare Advantage plans in specific areas.  The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the division of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services that regulates Medicare, will announce the final rate on April 3.  It said that it expected an additional 2.5 percent increase in payments related to coding of medical services.  The payment rate takes into account annual growth in medical costs and statutory requirements to reduce government payments to insurers for Medicare Advantage closer to the level it pays in traditional fee-for-service Medicare. Marilyn Tavenner, the CEO of America’s Health Insurance Plans, the industry’s biggest lobbying group, said that it is reviewing the notice to be sure “the program is protected from harmful cuts.” politicsNews
proposes percent hike medical advantage paymentsnew york reuters the government wednesday proposed increase percent average payments health insurers offer medical advantage insurance provides health benefits million elderly disabled people enrollment plans grew percent last year account medical members making important growth business private insurers facing changes business republicans seek repeal replace obamacare it clear republicans make broad changes medical advantage program medical visita smolinski managing director capitol street washington said wednesday medical advantage could get boost amid republican push private programs the payment rate increase basis points line estimates analysts released ahead time shares insurers including unitedhealth group inc human inc two largest providers plans little changed trading morgan gary taylor said research note last week expecting proposal payments flat slightly rate government paying insurers provide plans last year government proposed increase percent later trimmed back basis points but insurers days respond proposed payment rates changes included regulatory notice year pages long may ask bigger increase the update side better flat i suspect may anger plans smolinski said she said expected payment rate could rise final rates set insurers use payment rate information provided government prepare bids sell medical advantage plans specific areas the centers medical medical services division department health human services regulates medical announce final rate april it said expected additional percent increase payments related coding medical services the payment rate takes account annual growth medical costs statutory requirements reduce government payments insurers medical advantage closer level pays traditional medical marilyn lavender ceo america health insurance plans industry biggest lobbying group said reviewing notice sure program protected harmful politicsnews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: U.S. proposes 0.25 percent hike in Medicare Advantage paymentsNEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. government on Wednesday proposed an increase of 0.25 percent on average in payments to health insurers who offer Medicare Advantage insurance, which provides health benefits to more than 18 million elderly or disabled people. Enrollment in these plans grew by about 7 percent last year to account for about one-third of Medicare members, making it an important growth business for private insurers who are facing changes in their business as Republicans seek to repeal and replace Obamacare. It is not clear if Republicans will make any broad changes to the Medicare Advantage program, or to Medicare. Ipsita Smolinski, managing director at Capitol Street in Washington D.C. said on Wednesday that Medicare Advantage could get a boost amid the Republican push for private programs.  The payment rate increase of 25 basis points was in line with estimates that analysts had released ahead of time and shares of insurers including UnitedHealth Group Inc and Humana Inc, two of the largest providers of these plans, were little changed in after-hours trading. JPMorgan’s Gary Taylor said in a research note last week that he had been expecting a proposal for payments that were flat to slightly up from the rate that the government is now paying insurers who provide plans. Last year, the government proposed an increase of about 1.35 percent but later trimmed that back about 50 basis points. But insurers have 30 days to respond to the proposed payment rates and other changes included in the regulatory notice, which this year was 159 pages long, and may ask for a bigger increase.  “The 2018 update is only a smidge better than flat which I suspect may anger some plans,” Smolinski said. She said she expected that the payment rate could rise between now and when final rates are set. Insurers use the payment rate information provided by the government to prepare bids to sell Medicare Advantage plans in specific areas.  The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the division of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services that regulates Medicare, will announce the final rate on April 3.  It said that it expected an additional 2.5 percent increase in payments related to coding of medical services.  The payment rate takes into account annual growth in medical costs and statutory requirements to reduce government payments to insurers for Medicare Advantage closer to the level it pays in traditional fee-for-service Medicare. Marilyn Tavenner, the CEO of America’s Health Insurance Plans, the industry’s biggest lobbying group, said that it is reviewing the notice to be sure “the program is protected from harmful cuts.” politicsNews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: proposes percent hike medical advantage paymentsnew york reuters the government wednesday proposed increase percent average payments health insurers offer medical advantage insurance provides health benefits million elderly disabled people enrollment plans grew percent last year account medical members making important growth business private insurers facing changes business republicans seek repeal replace obamacare it clear republicans make broad changes medical advantage program medical visita smolinski managing director capitol street washington said wednesday medical advantage could get boost amid republican push private programs the payment rate increase basis points line estimates analysts released ahead time shares insurers including unitedhealth group inc human inc two largest providers plans little changed trading morgan gary taylor said research note last week expecting proposal payments flat slightly rate government paying insurers provide plans last year government proposed increase percent later trimmed back basis points but insurers days respond proposed payment rates changes included regulatory notice year pages long may ask bigger increase the update side better flat i suspect may anger plans smolinski said she said expected payment rate could rise final rates set insurers use payment rate information provided government prepare bids sell medical advantage plans specific areas the centers medical medical services division department health human services regulates medical announce final rate april it said expected additional percent increase payments related coding medical services the payment rate takes account annual growth medical costs statutory requirements reduce government payments insurers medical advantage closer level pays traditional medical marilyn lavender ceo america health insurance plans industry biggest lobbying group said reviewing notice sure program protected harmful politicsnews