Press Releases
December 9, 2015

BMA Celebrates One Year Supporting Medicare Advantage

5 NEW ALLIES JOIN COALITION INCLUDING AMERICAN NURSES ASSOCIATION

Washington, D.C. – This week the Better Medicare Alliance (BMA) celebrates one year since it was established by a broad range of health care stakeholders to be the leading advocacy coalition dedicated to protecting and strengthening Medicare Advantage.

In one year, the organization has already accomplished many milestones including nearly tripling the number of ally organizations in its coalition since the 13 founding allies – including advocacy organizations, health plans, and providers – joined forces to rally support for a critically important coverage option that one-third of Medicare beneficiaries have chosen. Today, the newest ally organizations include the American Nurses Association, National Association of Nutrition and Aging Service Programs, National Hispanic Council on Aging, Society for Women’s Health Research, and VSP Vision Care.

The American Nurses Association (ANA) is the only full-service professional organization representing the interests of the nation’s 3.4 million registered nurses through its constituent member nurses associations and its organizational affiliates. The ANA joins two other nursing organizations as BMA allies to amplify the voice of nurses and nurse practitioners, often vital in the delivery of primary care for Medicare beneficiaries.

The National Hispanic Council on Aging (NHCOA) is the nation’s only national organization dedicated to improving the lives of America’s Hispanic older adults, their families and caregivers.  NHCOA joins two other Hispanic and Latino advocacy organizations as BMA allies. Currently about 40 % of Hispanic Medicare beneficiaries have chosen to enroll in Medicare Advantage plans.

As a leading organization advocating for community-based senior nutrition programs, National Association of Nutrition and Aging Service Programs (NANASP), the organization advocates for community-based supplemental nutrition and wellness programs that are supported and provided through the Medicare Advantage program.

The Society for Women’s Health Research (SWHR) is a widely-recognized, important thought leader in research on biological differences in disease and is dedicated to transforming women’s health through science, advocacy, and education. About one-third of women Medicare beneficiaries have chosen to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan. Older women experience high rates of multiple chronic conditions than older men while they typically receive lower retirement benefits. Consequently, SWHR believes the integrated care provided at lower costs under Medicare Advantage plans are vital for older women.

VSP Vision Care is a not-for-profit vision care company that focuses on delivering the best eye care programs available through its network of 32,000 eye doctors and with the lowest out-of-pocket costs in the industry.

“On the occasion of our first anniversary, the Better Medicare Alliance is a strong coalition of a variety of key voices, placing us in a unique position to advocate for Medicare Advantage as we look to weigh on critical issues facing the Medicare program,” said Allyson Y. Schwartz, President & CEO of Better Medicare Alliance. “Each ally brings distinctive experiences and perspectives important to the discussions happening about the value of Medicare Advantage to stakeholders and millions of beneficiaries. BMA unites stakeholders and beneficiaries who believe Medicare Advantage is better for seniors and better for the health care system as a whole.”

In recognition of its one-year anniversary, BMA launched a new website featuring a web-based advocacy portal to provide over 100,000 of mostly Medicare beneficiaries in the organization’s database with an easy tool to become advocates of Medicare Advantage. The newly formed network of BMA Advocates will be encouraged to engage with policymakers and media in support of Medicare Advantage, particularly in response to regulatory or legislative changes to the program.

BMA’s new website also includes the latest research demonstrating the value of Medicare Advantage as well as white papers, issue briefs, surveys and policy perspectives from BMA ally organizations.

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Better Medicare Alliance | The Better Medicare Alliance (BMA) is a coalition of providers, plans, beneficiaries and advocates who support Medicare Advantage as an option under Medicare. Medicare Advantage offers quality, affordability and simplicity, with enhanced benefits to more than 17 million Medicare beneficiaries across the United States of America. BMA works to ensure the sustainability and stability of Medicare Advantage through information, research, education, and united support among stakeholders to strengthen this important coverage for seniors and the disabled. For more information please visitwww.bettermedicarealliance.org.

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