Better Medicare Alliance Urges Congress to Advance Apples to Apples Comparison Act
BMA Joins 22 Organizations in Coalition Letter to Key Congressional Committees
WASHINGTON —Better Medicare Alliance today joined 22 health care, consumer, employer, and policy organizations in calling on Congressional leaders to advance the Apples to Apples Comparison Act (H.R. 4093), bipartisan legislation that would ensure accurate data and transparent methodology in government comparisons of Medicare Advantage and traditional Fee-for-Service Medicare.
“You can’t make good policy with bad data,” said Better Medicare Alliance President and CEO Mary Beth Donahue. “Thirty-five million seniors and people with disabilities depend on Medicare Advantage — and they deserve decisions based on complete and accurate information, not flawed comparisons. This legislation will help ensure policymakers have the reliable data they need before making changes that affect the affordable, high-quality coverage seniors count on.”
The legislation, introduced by Rep. Aaron Bean (R-FL) and Rep. Kevin Hern (R-OK), would require the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to publicly release standardized enrollment and spending data across coverage types and regions. The bill would also improve how the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) and Medicare Trustees analyze and report on Medicare Advantage and traditional Fee-For-Service Medicare costs.
“We are grateful to Representatives Bean and Hern for their leadership on this important legislation,” Donahue added. “Their commitment to transparency and data-driven policymaking will help protect Medicare Advantage for the millions of seniors who rely on it.”
Read the full coalition letter 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 health care through a strong Medicare Advantage. Learn more at bettermedicarealliance.org.