Before the lunch break in the Senate Finance Committee’s markup on health reform legislation, members engaged in a long and ultra-wonky debate on Medicare Advantage. The debate was essentially about whether more than $100 billion in cuts to Medicare Advantage will lead to a reduction in benefits. At the risk of being unclear, the answer is yes and no. Benefits seniors are entitled to under Medicare – i.e. much needed, pure medical benefits – will not change, but extra benefits (like dental, vision and gym memberships) provided by seniors who choose to buy Medicare Advantage plans will likely be reduced over time some some people. (The government has the power to do this because Medicare Advantage plans are subsidized with federal funds.) The debate ended with Democrats – and Republican Olympia Snowe – voting down an amendment from Republic Orin Hatch that the bill not make the cuts. See here and here for more.

But the debate after the senators returned from lunch was also heated – and indicative of how Chairman Max Baucus’s efforts at bipartisanship are, so far, not a part of the Finance Committee markup process.