Better Medicare Alliance Launches Extensive New Database of Research on Special Supplemental Benefits for the Chronically Ill
WASHINGTON —Better Medicare Alliance (BMA) today launched the Medicare Advantage Supplemental Benefits Database, an interactive online tool offering Medicare Advantage stakeholders and researchers access to an extensive database of articles and evidence related to core Special Supplemental Benefits for the Chronically Ill (SSBCI). This new public resource is designed to help the Medicare Advantage research community identify gaps in literature and broaden the base of evidence on the impact of non-medical interventions on overall health and wellbeing.
“As Medicare Advantage increasingly serves more diverse, medically complex, and at-risk beneficiaries, Special Supplemental Benefits for the Chronically Ill play a crucial role in supporting these high-need populations,” said Mary Beth Donahue, President and CEO of Better Medicare Alliance. “This tool will help fill research gaps and ensure that these innovative benefits continue to improve the lives of chronically ill beneficiaries.”
As part of its 2025 Medicare Advantage and Part D Final Rule, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will require Medicare Advantage organizations to establish bibliographies of evidence demonstrating that SSBCI are supported by research showing they can reasonably be expected to improve or maintain the health or overall function of chronically ill beneficiaries. To support this work, Better Medicare Alliance, together with ATI Advisory, developed bibliographies for 10 core SSBCI and conducted a thorough literature review of the evidence as the basis for the interactive online tool.
The new tool enables users to search and filter relevant articles and evidence published between 2014 and 2024, including CMS-acceptable grey literature, to help stakeholders ensure their offerings meet CMS’ standards. With the CMS CY 2025 rule requiring health plans to have this evidence in place by the time they submit their bids, BMA’s new tool is expected to be an essential resource for ensuring compliance and maintaining the high standard of care that Medicare Advantage beneficiaries rely on.
For more information and to access the interactive tool, please visit ssbcidatabase.org.
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Better Medicare Alliance is a community of more than one million grassroots beneficiaries and 200+ ally organizations working to improve health care through a strong Medicare Advantage. Learn more at www.bettermedicarealliance.org.