Data Brief: Medicare Advantage Sees Fewer Covid-19 Hospitalizations In Beneficiaries And Offers Greater Access To In-Person And Telehealth Non-Covid Care During Pandemic

This data brief, conducted by ATI Advisory and commissioned by Better Medicare Alliance, shows that Medicare Advantage had a 19% lower rate of COVID-19 related hospitalizations during the first nine months of the pandemic than fee-for-service (FFS) Medicare.

The study, based on fall 2020 Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (MBCS) data, found that Medicare Advantage saw 664 COVID-19 hospitalizations per 100,000 beneficiaries, as compared to 788 COVID-19 hospitalizations in FFS Medicare.

The FFS Medicare population also experienced a higher mortality rate than Medicare Advantage. 22% of FFS Medicare beneficiaries hospitalized with COVID-19 died during their hospitalization, compared with 15% of Medicare Advantage beneficiaries hospitalized with COVID-19.

Report

Approaches to Meet Behavioral Health Needs in Medicare Advantage November 1, 2022

This brief, conducted on behalf of Better Medicare Alliance by ATI Advisory, highlights innovations occurring in Medicare Advantage to meet behavioral health needs, as well as key policy opportunities to improve access for the entire…

Flexibility in Benefit Design

Health Outcomes

Coordinated Care

Fact Sheet

Fact Sheet: Prior Authorization in Medicare Advantage May 3, 2022

Medicare Advantage plans use various medical management and care coordination tools to ensure beneficiaries receive the most clinically appropriate and cost-effective care. A commonly used tool is prior authorization, in which the beneficiary’s health care…

Advocacy

Coordinated Care

White Paper

The COVID-19 Response: Differences in Medicare Advantage and Fee-For-Service Medicare in Meeting Beneficiary and Provider Needs November 4, 2021

This white paper, conducted by Health Management Associates (HMA) and commissioned by Better Medicare Alliance, evaluates the Medicare Advantage community’s response to COVID-19 and key differences in Medicare Advantage and fee-for-service (FFS) Medicare’s abilities to…

Patient Centered Care

Health Outcomes