America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) comments on opportunities to improve and grow the Medicare Advantage (MA) program.
Given the long-standing value of the MA program, many committee members—both Republicans and Democrats—signed letters earlier this year, urging the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to maintain stable coverage options for beneficiaries in the 2019 rate setting process. Overall, more than 360 members of Congress addressed letters to CMS, expressing support for the MA program, in the weeks leading up to the April 2 announcement of 2019 MA payment rates.
Our statement focuses on the following:
- The continued value provided to beneficiaries under the MA program;
- Opportunities for improving the MA program resulting from the recent passage of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 and policy changes finalized by CMS in early April; and
- Additional improvements that are needed to further strengthen the MA program.