Congressman Tom Price released the following statement after the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) lifted a shameful communication ban imposed on Medicare Advantage providers, denying them the ability to inform beneficiaries of how their coverage would be affected under the administration’s health care reform proposal. Under the plan, the Congressional Budget Office has found, seniors on Medicare Advantage would face steep cuts in benefits. On October 6, 2009, 46 members of the Republican Study Committee sent a letter to CMS demanding that the gag order be lifted.

“The eleven million American seniors on Medicare Advantage deserve to know that they stand to have their benefits slashed under the President’s plan,” said Congressman Price. “It is shameful that the administration would have ever ordered to keep these seniors in the dark when their health coverage is on the chopping block in Washington. The level to which this administration is willing to go to silence those who see flaws in their proposals is deeply troubling. A campaign that preached transparency has divulged into an administration that operates through secrecy, fuzzy math, and backroom deals. It’s clear this unconstitutional and disgraceful gag order would not have been lifted were it not, in part, for the principled protest from RSC members, especially Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Dave Camp. As the American people demand the straight facts about how they will be affected, we will continue to shine a light on the destructive policies for which this administration advocates and offer our own positive solutions that protect seniors on Medicare.”