BMA Launches Campaign Around Accurate Medicare Advantage Data

Campaign comes as MedPAC is set to release its June report to Congress.

WASHINGTON — Ahead of the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission’s (MedPAC) June Report to Congress, Better Medicare Alliance launched a new campaign Monday highlighting the importance of accurate, up-to-date data around Medicare Advantage payments.

“Much of the conversation around Medicare Advantage payment accuracy relies on a number that doesn’t reflect the program today,” said Mary Beth Donahue, President and CEO of Better Medicare Alliance. “This campaign is about making sure policymakers have the most up-to-date data to help inform their decision-making. More than 35 million Americans rely on Medicare Advantage — and they are counting on lawmakers to protect their affordable health coverage.”

The campaign will incorporate digital advertising to help raise awareness with policymakers about more accurate Medicare Advantage data.

A recent CMS analysis found that the coding difference between Medicare Advantage and Fee-for-Service Medicare is about 1.5 to 2.0 percentage points — far below the roughly 10 percent figure cited by MedPAC. The gap reflects changes that have taken effect in Medicare Advantage through the v28 risk adjustment model, which are not reflected in MedPAC’s calculations.

The numbers carry real weight. MedPAC’s estimates inform congressional hearings, budget scoring, and policy proposals affecting more than 35 million Americans.

Learn more about the CMS analysis and what it means for the June Report here.

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Better Medicare Alliance is a community of hundreds of thousands of grassroots beneficiaries and 200+ ally organizations working to improve healthcare through a strong Medicare Advantage. Learn more at bettermedicarealliance.org.