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Private Health Insurers Begin Lobbying for Changes in Medicare Drug Legislation
By ROBERT PEAR

WASHINGTON, June 30 � Private health insurance plans began lobbying Congress today for major changes in the Medicare drug legislation passed just three days ago.

Without increased subsidies and more stability, they said, few private plans will enter the Medicare market, and the legislation will not work as intended.

Lobbyists for the health insurance industry praised Congress for its efforts to inject market forces and competition into Medicare. But they said Congress needed to change the rules for such competition and to increase payments for private plans to make Medicare an attractive business proposition.