Press Releases
December 8, 2014

Healthcare Leaders Form New Medicare Advantage Coalition

WASHINGTON – A broad range of healthcare stakeholders has come together to create a new organization dedicated to strengthening Medicare Advantage and demonstrating the program’s value.

The Better Medicare Alliance (BMA) unites providers, beneficiaries and advocates who believe Medicare Advantage is better for seniors and better for the healthcare system as a whole.

Also known as Medicare Part C, Medicare Advantage is the part of Medicare that provides high quality, more affordable healthcare coverage. More than 16 million Medicare beneficiaries rely on Medicare Advantage for their health and financial security, including medical, prescription drugs, vision, dental, fitness and wellness benefits.

Medicare Advantage focuses on prevention, coordinated care, better management of chronic conditions, and new provider payment models that reward value over volume. As a result of these innovations, Medicare Advantage is enhancing seniors’ health and well-being, while driving systemic improvements in care delivery.

“AMGA and its multispecialty medical group members fully support the Medicare Advantage program,” said Don Fisher, Ph.D., President and CEO of the American Medical Group Association (AMGA). “MA incentives align with the goals of medical groups: improved care and reduced cost. MA plans help to improve care coordination by providing incentives for the effective management of chronic conditions and they enable multispecialty medical groups to offer innovative services to their patients. AMGA member groups work with MA plans to focus on high risk patients and use technology and care management strategies to help reduce readmissions for Medicare Advantage patients. We are very pleased to join the Better Medicare Alliance.”

Building on the growing body of research showing that Medicare Advantage is improving health outcomes for seniors, the new group will commission research on the value proposition of Medicare Advantage. BMA will also rally support among seniors and stakeholders to preserve and strengthen this critically important coverage option that one-third of Medicare beneficiaries have chosen. BMA allies will work together to:

  • Build on Medicare Advantage’s approach to care coordination.
  • Ensure that Medicare Advantage funding is stabilized, predictable and consistent to protect beneficiaries.
  • Learn from innovation in Medicare Advantage.

As a new organization, the Better Medicare Alliance (BMA) is conducting a search for an Executive Director. BMA is initially being led by Interim Executive Director Krista Drobac, a veteran health policy advocate who has 20 years of experience at the federal and state levels. Ms. Drobac previously served in key health policy roles at the National Governors Association, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, and in the offices of Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI).

“I have seen firsthand that Medicare Advantage is working to achieve many of the goals we are striving for in improving quality and care coordination for seniors. I am honored to be helping to kick off an effort with such a distinguished group of organizations in that will provide a much-needed new voice for Medicare Advantage in our nation’s health policy conversation,” Drobac said.

BMA’s founding allies are: Aetna, American Medical Group Association, Healthcare Leadership Council, Healthways, Humana, The Latino Coalition, The National Caucus and Center on Black Aging, National Hispanic Medical Association, National Association of Manufacturers, National Retail Federation, Population Health Alliance, UnitedHealth Group, and the US Chamber.

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