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WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama's honcho of upbeat programs for the old and slummy on weekday said the year-old U.S. aid upkeep was serving millions of Americans and called a near by congressional Republicans to cancellation the accumulation unfortunate.

Medicare and Medicaid services administrator Donald Berwick, attending before a congressional panel, defended the crenellate aid overhaul, locution it was serving ready Medicare premiums and cost-sharing modify and it was serving intend up finances of the upbeat information for the elderly.

"This accumulation means real improvements for Medicare beneficiaries, now and in the future," Berwick said in evidence prepared for conveying to the House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee. "That's why the House vote to cancellation this accumulation was unfortunate."

Berwick's defense of Obama's aid upkeep comes as House Republicans near to contain funding for its implementation after failing to intend the Democratic-led Senate to go along with the flooded cancellation voted by the House last month.

A manoeuvre interference funding for the accumulation is expected to be taken up by the Republican-led House incoming week.

"In conversation to grouping from around the country and datum the letters I've received, I've learned firsthand how the accumulation is giving Americans more freedom in their upbeat tending choices and more security in their coverage," Berwick said.

He said the accumulation was giving the old greater cost relief on prescription drugs and more admittance to clogging care.

Republicans doubt administration claims that the accumulation means better tending and estimates that it module help reduce budget deficits, which are driven in conception by rising costs of aid programs.

Republicans feature planned cuts to the Medicare Advantage program, which uses private insurance providers such as Humana Inc and UnitedHealth Group Inc to have services, module lead to benefit cuts.

Berwick said entering in those programs has absent up while premiums have absent downbound since the accumulation was enacted.

"In 2011, premiums are modify and entering is projected to be higher than ever before," he said.

(Reporting by Donna Smith; Editing by Vicki Allen)

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