Reading the GAO report on FEHBP premium growth remains on my to do list but both the Federal Times and Steve Barr of the Washington Post are reporting this morning that the report criticizes OPM for declining the Medicare Part D subsidy and that Sen. Akaka plans to review the GAO report at a subcommittee hearing this Spring. In a statement released yesterday, Senator Akaka said that

“I will take a closer look at how OPM decisions affect health care premiums,” Senator Akaka said. “Although OPM did a good job in keeping premium increases down in 2006, the GAO report clearly shows that if OPM had applied for and used the subsidy, premium growth would be reduced by 2.6 percent.”