Better Medicare Alliance Leads Coalition Letter To Congress On Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plans
Washington, D.C. – Today Better Medicare Alliance (BMA), the leading advocacy coalition for Medicare Advantage, and 12 health organizations sent a letter to House Energy and Commerce Committee leaders calling for Congressional action to provide permanent authorization of Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plans (SNPs).
Today, 2.4 million people are enrolled in specialized plans serving beneficiaries who are dually-eligible for Medicare and Medicaid (D-SNPs), have certain chronic conditions (C-SNPs), or receive long-term care in an institutional setting such as a Skilled Nursing Facility (I-SNPs). Studies show that SNPs provide successful models of care for high-risk, high-need beneficiaries with complex conditions.
Currently, authorization for SNPs is scheduled to expire at the end of 2018. Since the creation of SNPs in 2003, Congress has continued to provide short-term reauthorization of the program.
“Bipartisan support for the care provided by SNPs is strong. This letter reflects agreement from the health community to permanently authorize the SNP program to help establish a stable environment and access to SNPs for high need beneficiaries,” said Allyson Y. Schwartz, BMA President and CEO.
The coalition sent the letter in advance of a July 26 hearing scheduled by the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee intended to examine extending Special Needs Plans (SNPs).
FULL TEXT OF THE LETTER SIGNED BY:
- AIDS Healthcare Foundation
- Alliance of Community Health Plans
- America’s Health Insurance Plans
- Association for Community Affiliated Plans
- Better Medicare Alliance
- Blue Cross Blue Shield Association
- Healthcare Leadership Council
- Meals on Wheels America
- National Alliance on Mental Illness
- National Coalition on Health Care
- National Minority Quality Forum
- SNP Alliance
###