Advocacy Letter
February 17, 2016 BMA 2016 Advance Rate Notice Letter to Acting Administrator Slavitt
We are troubled by CMS’s proposal to apply further cuts to MA in 2016. The proposed 1 percent cut is a real cut, particularly at a time when medical costs continue to rise and following double digit cuts to the MA program in the past several years. While MA plans have absorbed a portion of the payment cuts and growing medical costs there are limits, however, on how much of the cuts plans can absorb each year. As a result, MA beneficiaries are feeling the very real impact of MA payments cuts over the past several years. A new cut in 2016 contributes to that trend and will lead to higher out-of-pocket costs, fewer benefits, and fewer choices.