Plans with smaller choices of health-care providers are a big focus for insurers, partly because manyotheraspects of exchange plans, including benefits and out-of-pocket charges that consumers pay, are largely prescribed by the law, giving them few levers to push to reduce premiums.
As in manyotheraspects of health care, we could significantly reduce costs and improve quality by moving towards the medical practices adopted in the more efficient parts of the country.
Critics, including many Republicans, say the cuts are being used to fund otheraspects of the health-care overhaul and should be redirected specifically into the Medicare program to improve its solvency.