BETTER MEDICARE ALLIANCE APPLAUDS MOVE TO ADDRESS SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH FOR MEDICARE ADVANTAGE ENROLLEES
Washington, D.C. – Better Medicare Alliance (BMA) President and CEO Allyson Y. Schwartz released the following statement in response to the CY2020 Medicare Advantage (MA) Final Rate Notice and Call Letter released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today:
“Today, the Administration finalized policies for 2020 that is a game-changer in health care delivery in this country and signifies good news for millions of Medicare beneficiaries who have chosen Medicare Advantage.
“The announcement offers a continuation of a positive and stable environment for Medicare Advantage that allows plans and providers to continue to offer high quality, affordable care for millions of beneficiaries. Growth has been driven by beneficiary appreciation of the simplicity, affordability, care coordination and access to benefits in Medicare Advantage that are improving people’s health and quality of life.
“This move recognizes Medicare Advantage’s capacity to provide innovative care delivery by giving plans and providers new flexibility to address social determinants of health for people with chronic conditions. The final rule will allow for additional benefits, such as meal delivery, transportation to and from a grocery store, home environmental needs including air purifiers if you suffer from asthma. These services offer the opportunity to directly address basic human needs essential to one’s health.
“While we monitor the full impact of the final rule, as well as other policy proposals, Better Medicare Alliance, an alliance of 130 organizations and 400,000 beneficiaries will continue to activate its coalition to communicate the value of Medicare Advantage.”
###