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Statement of ACAP CEO Margaret A. Murray on the 2017 Medicare Advantage Final Call Letter
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 4, 2016
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Jeff Van Ness, (202) 204-7515
STATEMENT OF ACAP CEO MARGARET A. MURRAY ON THE
2017 MEDICARE ADVANTAGE FINAL CALL LETTER
WASHINGTON—ACAP CEO Margaret A. Murray today made the following statement about the Announcement of Calendar Year (CY) 2017 Medicare Advantage Capitation Rates and Medicare Advantage and Part D Payment Policies and Final Call Letter recently issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS):
“We applaud the leadership position CMS has taken here to improve coverage and care for full-benefit dual eligibles—that is, people who qualify for all Medicaid benefits due to low incomes. Many such beneficiaries suffer from chronic conditions.
“With this final notice, CMS has addressed the flaw in its risk adjustment system that had led to systemic underpayments for health plans serving full-benefit dual eligibles—who are among the poorest, sickest, and most vulnerable Medicare beneficiaries.
“This fix will help Safety Net Health Plans and others to continue their mission to bring integrated services to full-benefit dual eligibles through coordinated, accessible, high-quality care—as is the intent of the Dual Eligible Special Needs Plan program as originally passed in the Medicare Modernization Act.
“We applaud CMS for their actions today, and look forward to furthering our efforts to assure that all Medicare beneficiaries have access to the health care they desire and deserve—regardless of their income, resources or health status.”
About ACAP
ACAP represents 56 nonprofit Safety Net Health Plans in 26 states, which collectively serve more than fifteen million people enrolled in Medicaid, Medicare, Marketplaces, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and other public health programs. For more information, visit www.communityplans.net.
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