BETTER MEDICARE ALLIANCE STATEMENT ON MEDICARE ADVANTAGE VBID & PART D DEMO UPDATE

Washington, D.C. – Better Medicare Alliance (BMA) President and CEO Allyson Y. Schwartz released the following statement in response to announcement by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to implement a new Medicare Part D payment model and updates to the existing Medicare Advantage Value-Based Insurance Design (V-BID) model through Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation (CMMI):

“The expansion of the V-BID demonstration to allow Medicare Advantage new flexibility to continue to find innovative ways to care for those with chronic conditions is encouraging news.

“We are particularly pleased to see CMS listen to stakeholder feedback, including Better Medicare Alliance, to offer the opportunity for Medicare Advantage to target reduced cost sharing and additional benefits, as well as beneficiary incentive programs to encourage healthy behaviors. In addition, we have also advocated for increased access to telehealth services to meet network adequacy requirements as part of integrated care delivery. We are pleased this was included in their plans for CMMI for 2020.

“This update to the CMMI demonstration possibilities will also allow Medicare Advantage to test a hospice carve-in beginning in 2021. We are supportive of testing the hospice carve-in and anticipate continued discussions as a result.

“Importantly, CMS intentions to tackle drug pricing in Medicare is welcomed. This offers Medicare Advantage new ways to lead the way in generating new incentives for plans, patients, and providers to ensure beneficiaries have access to affordable prescription drugs where possible.”

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